INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION · Web viewEnterprises, particularly SMEs, can use ICTs to...

- 160 -

WSIS

REFERENCE DOCUMENT

PART II: DRAFT ACTION PLAN

SECTION I: Government contributions

NOTE: Added text: Underlined

Deleted text: Strikethrough

Comments: italics

Note on the contribution from Mexico: For technical reasons, it has not been possible to keep all the words deleted by the Mexican delegation in the strikethrough mode. The final text proposed by the delegation therefore appears without some of the deleted words.

/TT/FILE_CONVERT/5F915C6C17D0D619D818ACA9/DOCUMENT.DOC (163900) 03.07.03 03.07.03

- 161 -

General comments to the Action Plan

European Union: The EU believes that the Action Plan should be along the following general lines: • In conformity with the principles and aspirations of the Declaration, the Action Plan and the Declaration should share a common perspective, have a clear

structure and they should be consistent with each other. • The recommendations of the Action Plan together with the Declaration should capture the imagination of people around the world and enhance awareness

and understanding of the issues at a political level and in the media.• The Action Plan should be subject to the joint commitment of all stakeholders, whose roles are crucial to its implementation.• It should reflect a clear global consensus on priorities, strategies and goals. The prerequisites of the Information Society should be integrated into policy

and programme formulation at both the national and international level. The international community should outline how these priorities, strategies and goals can be achieved in the face of ever-changing circumstances and technologies. The views of all States and a growing number of other actors in the international community must be adequately reflected.

• It should identify concrete and tangible goals supporting the achievement of the principles of the Political Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals, inter alia, allowing the potential of rapidly developing technologies to be harnessed for sustainable economic and social development, improved standards of living and quality of life, alleviating poverty and hunger and protecting the environment.

• Specific problems should be addressed and agreements reached on issues which go beyond borders and the capacity of the individual players to solve and which need a concerted international effort in a new spirit of global cooperation and purpose.

• A clear indication is needed on how commitments will be followed up, as a base for evaluation of the implementation of the results of both phases of the Summit, i.e. Geneva and Tunis.

• To make the Action Plan a reality we will need to harness all the mechanisms and experience available at governmental, inter-governmental level, regional and global level and ensure the universal participation and strong commitment by all stakeholders.

India: The Draft Action Plan should be an action-oriented crisp document and, as such, it should clearly delineate, responsibilities at national, regional and global levels for creating the enabling environment and to achieve certain milestones within a set time-frame. However, in the present draft document, we find that some of the core concerns such as Information and Communication Infrastructure, access and affordability, the role of governments, business sector and civil society in the promotion of ICT, human capacity building, security of the network, need to preserve cultural and linguistic identity and fostering the enabling environment, which are elaborated in the "Declaration of Principles", have been reiterated. We are of the opinion that once we are aware of the agreed documents on common vision and key principles, the Action Plan should go beyond what is contained in these documents and should lay down the course of future action and should be more specific and action oriented.Mali: The Action Plan must contain practical measures, the implementation of which is planned, well paced and monitored through the use of indicators for the periodic measurement of achievements against targets. Like the Bureau at Bamako 2002, we attach particular importance to the draft Action Plan, as Africa is expecting concrete measures that can be completed in two or three years, thus turning the mirage of the Internet and other NICTs into a palpable reality for the entire population in our countries.Mexico: Editorial Note:


- 162 -

The colour red: Mexico's proposed changes to the original text for the purpose of correcting mistakes in the Spanish translation of the English text.Font "Arial 12" and yellow highlighting: Mexico's comments on and contributions to the draft Action Plan.New Zealand:New Zealand would like to see the Plan of Action section of the document give priority to measures to:• improve access to information as a resource for education, scientific research and industrial development; • establish sound legal, policy and regulatory regimes aimed at reducing administrative obstacles and tax burdens in order to encourage technological

development, innovation and enterprise;• develop applications of ICTs which promote good governance and accountability, sustainable economic and social development, including applications for

e-government, e-commerce, e-health, life-long learning and distance learning;• develop ICT applications for preserving cultural identity and heritage, and which promote cultural diversity and local content; • foster international interoperability by developing compatible global technical standards for ICTs;• promote effective Internet security, and combat cyber-crime; • address illicit and unsolicited content on the Internet; • strengthen human resource capacity; • support community-based and citizen-focused technology initiatives; • protect the intellectual property of indigenous people;• strengthen the capacity of libraries, archives and museums to preserve the digital cultural heritage, digital record and cultural memory.New Zealand would like to see the document recognize diversity and special needs through the development of specific measures to address the interests of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups. For example, New Zealand strongly supports the attention given in the draft declaration to gender perspectives and the needs of women. However, these references are not supported by relevant activities in the draft Action Plan. In this context we note that one of the themes of the 3-14 March 2003 session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women was "Participation and access of women to the media, and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women". The agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on this theme could be drawn on to develop specific measures relating to women's participation in the information society. Rep. of Korea: It is necessary for the Plan of Action to lay out more action-oriented content geared toward implementation and improve the overall structure to make it contain feasible and coherent characteristics.The Plan of Action contains all the necessary items even though sometimes with repetition, but the problem of the appropriateness in the selection of the subtitles as well as the need to improve both the content and organization of the document, should be addressed.Switzerland: The Action Plan should develop concrete action lines flowing from the principles contained in the Declaration. In its present form it is too similar to the Declaration and fails to propose the concrete, tangible measures Switzerland would like to see as a direct output of the Summit. In our view, it is essential that the Action Plan contains concrete action lines with a description of targets, measures to be taken, a possible time-frame and a list of "who does what" among all stakeholders concerned. The Action Plan should also address issues related to its implementation, such as methods of financing and evaluation, and should aim to ensure policy coherence and programme coordination as well as mainstreaming ICTs into ODA and National Development


- 163 -

Strategies. The human centred approach well present in the Declaration should be maintained in the Action Plan as well. Furthermore, the Action Plan should take advantage of the unique structure of a two-phase Summit, set up a list of actions to be taken between Geneva and Tunis and set objectives for the second phase in Tunis. Russian Federation: We would propose that the concept of "government" be replaced by that of "State" throughout the text, as is the case in § 36. In a State system, it is not only the government that participates in creating the Information Society.Samoa: Samoa strongly recommends that the Action Plan should clearly emphasize what specific actions are going to be carried out, by whom, how and where, with clear processes to measure achievements of the actions and a timeline. As one management guru stated, "If you cannot measure, you can't manage".Tunisia: The draft action plan contains a long list of issues that need to be addressed at the Summit; however the following headings require further elaboration:• Objectives and their arrangement by priority and importance.• Strategies, programmes and methods for implementation, and the need to address each of these elements separately (methods for implementation should

also cover the question of financing).• International cooperation.• Follow-up mechanisms.


- 164 -

Draft Action Plan (DT 2) – Section I

Governments' contributions

1. The Information Society is an evolving concept, the realization of which is driven by all societies - and in this process all of them can learn from each other. At present, the Information Society has reached different levels of development across the regions and countries of the world. As such, it would be necessary and more effective to design a flexible Action Plan that can be used as a reference framework and as a source of guidance and inspiration at regional and national levels, and that is established in accordance with the Millennium Declaration Goals.

Japan: "… and that is established in accordance with the Millennium DeclarationDevelopment Goals".Mexico: The Information Society is an evolving concept, the which encompasses traditional media such as the press, radio, television and existing telecommunication infrastructure, as well as the new media brought into being through advances in ICTs. Its realization of which is driven by all societies - and in this process all of them can learn from each other. At present, the Information Society has reached different levels of development across the regions and countries of the world. As such, it would be necessary and more effective to design a flexibleFor that reason, the present Action Plan that can be used asis a reference framework and as a source of guidance and inspirationa flexible guide for use at regional and national levels, and that is established in accordance with the Millennium Declaration Goals.Russian Federation: Amend the last part of § 1 to read as follows: "... national levels, as well as at the level of United Nations international organizations, and that is established in accordance with the Millennium Declaration Goals".

Brazil: Add [1A]: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HAS EMERGED AS AN ISSUE FOR INTERNATIONAL DEBATE FAIRLY RECENTLY. MANY STILL TREAT IT UNDER PURELY TECHNICAL APPROACHES, LIMITING DISCUSSIONS TO MATTERS OF BANDWIDTH, ACCESSIBILITY, COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND SO ON. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT SUFFICIENT. THE PLAN OF ACTION SHOULD BE ORGANIZED AROUND BROAD THEMATIC AREAS OF PUBLIC POLICIES THAT ARE PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, SUCH AS EDUCATION, HEALTH, EMPLOYMENT, GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, LOCAL CONTENT, SOCIAL INCLUSION AND THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION. BETTER CONNECTIVITY INFRASTRUCTURE, HOWEVER, IS ALSO A FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE.

Brazil: Add [1B]: THE PLAN OF ACTION SHOULD BE ADAPTABLE TO EACH COUNTRY'S NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, NEEDS AND VALUES. IT SHOULD EMPHASIZE THE STATE'S KEY ROLE IN THE


- 165 -

FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ICT RELATED POLICIES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY. THE PLAN OF ACTION MUST FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL GOALS OF THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT DECLARATION.

A. List of issues

1) Information and communication infrastructure: financing and investment, affordability, development and sustainability

Mexico: Information technology and communication infrastructure: financing and investment, affordability, development and sustainability

2. Bridging the digital divide: Our countries are committed to taking action to overcome the digital divide, which reflects and is a factor in the differences that exist between and within countries in terms of economic, social and cultural aspects, education, health and access to knowledge.

Canada: in terms of economic, geographic, social and cultural aspects, education, health and access to knowledge.Mexico: Our countries are committed, through mechanisms for digital participation that include the exchange of best practices, to taking action to overcome the digital divide, as a basis for achieving the information society, which reflects and is a factor in the differences that exist between and within countries in terms of economic, social and cultural aspects,terms and in education, health and access to knowledge. Mexico proposes including this text in the draft Declaration, either in Section I after No. 17 or in the preambular part, after No. 3b.

Brazil: Add [2A] INFRASTRUCTURE IS CENTRAL TO DIGITAL INCLUSION AND IS, PERHAPS, THE MOST CRITICAL STEP IN NATIONAL ICT POLICY, REQUIRING INVOLVEMENT OF REGULATORY BODIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

Brazil: Add [2B] RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO INFORMATION BY ALL, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ON-LINE SERVICES RELEVANT TO THE ECONOMY AND THE COUNTRY AT LARGE DEPEND ON INFRASTRUCTURE. RESEARCH AND INVESTMENTS SHOULD BE PROMOTED THROUGH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS.

Brazil: Add [2C] NATIONAL POLICIES SHOULD ALSO PROMOTE CONNECTIVITY IN UNDER-SERVED AREAS THROUGH REGULATIONS AND/OR PRIVATE SECTOR INCENTIVES AND IN COORDINATION


- 166 -

WITH THE CIVIL SOCIETY.

Brazil: Add [2D] INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IS LIKELY TO RELY ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AGENCIES AND PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT.

Brazil: Add [2E] PROJECTS AND ADAPTATION OF TECHNOLOGIES TO LOCAL NEEDS AND CONDITIONS MUST BE DEVELOPED. TO THIS END, GOVERNMENTS SHOULD DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY-BASED FIRMS BY CREATING SUCH MECHANISMS AS VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDS, TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE ZONES AND BUSINESS INCUBATORS WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, RESEARCH CENTRES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHILE ALSO PROMOTING THEIR NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION THROUGH THE USE OF ADVANCED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NETWORKS, AND APPROPRIATE FUNDING FACILITIES.

3. Universal access: In order to achieve affordable and universal access in basic services it is essential:• To utilize existing and new

technologies to provide connectivity to all

• To develop connectivity for institutions accessible to the public such as schools, libraries, post offices, etc.

• To study and promote relevant solutions adapted to the environment for ICTs in remote and rural areas

Brazil: Add as 2d bullet point:TO DEVELOP LOW COST SOLUTIONS AFFORDABLE TO LOW INCOME COUNTRIES AND REGIONS.Canada:" …• To develop connectivity, including Internet access, for institutions accessible to the public such as schools, libraries,

post offices, community and cultural centres, archives, museums, etc. To study and promote relevant solutions adapted to the environment for ICTs in remote, rural and impoverished areas.

• To establish multi-purpose community access points to ensure inclusive access to information and social services, particularly in rural and impoverished areas.

• To evolve the concept of universal access/service to reflect advances and opportunities offered by technology, existing infrastructures, market development and changes in user demand.

• To develop adaptations that enable elderly, disabled and disadvantaged people to access networks and ICTs."Colombia (National Institute for the Blind): "Facilitate access to ICTs on the basis of web accessibility standards (W3C - WA1) and through the development of software and hardware designed for visually impaired persons. "Japan: "In order to achieve affordable and universal access in basic services and information and communication equipment ...""To utilize existing and new technologies to provide connectivity to all to achieve the universal design of information and communication equipment so that everyone, including the elderly and the handicapped, can easily access."

• To establish multi-purpose community access points to

Mali: Add:


- 167 -

ensure inclusive access to information and social services, particularly in rural areas.

• To evolve the concept of universal access/service to reflect advances and opportunities offered by technology, existing infrastructures, market development and changes in user demand

• to study and promote energy solutions adapted to the environment for ITCs, particularly in rural areas• to devise appropriate universal access policies and strategies in order to encourage the development of ICTs,

particularly in suburban and rural areas (defining concept, content, financing, economic viability and implementation programme)

Mexico: "Universal access to the information society: In order to achieve affordable and universal access in basic servicesto the Information Society it is essential: • To utilize existing and new technologies to provide connectivity to all.• To develop connectivity for institutions accessible to the public such as schools, libraries, post offices, digital

community centres, etc.• To study and promote relevant solutions adapted to the environment for ICTs, particularly in marginalized urban

areas and in remote and rural areas.• To establish multi-purpose community access points to ensure inclusive access to information and social services,

particularly in rural areas and underserved and marginalized urban areas.• To evolve the concept of universal access/service to reflect advances and opportunities offered by ICTs, technology,

existing infrastructures, market development and changes in user demand.Russian Federation: "... To develop connectivity for institutions accessible to the public such as schoolsarchives , libraries, post offices, schools, universities, …".Sri Lanka: Add new bullet point: "Recognizing the critical role of universities and research institutions in knowledge production and training, a global effort is necessary to ensure that these institutions in developing countries have affordable high-speed Internet connections."

4. Broadband: It is essential to strengthen regional and international broadband network infrastructure in order to provide the capacity to match the needs of countries and their citizens and for the delivery of new services.

Brazil: "It is essential to strengthen regional and international broadband network infrastructure in order to provide the capacity to match the needs of countries and their citizens and for the delivery of new services. THE STRENGTHENING OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BROADBAND NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE WILL HELP TO PROVIDE THE CAPACITY TO MATCH THE NEEDS OF COUNTRIES AND THEIR CITIZENS AND FOR THE DELIVERY OF NEW SERVICES."Israel: "It is essential to strengthen regional and international most modernbroadband network infrastructure …"Mexico: Broadband: It is essential to develop and strengthen national, regional and international broadband network infrastructure in order to provide the capacity to match the needs of countries and their citizens and for the delivery of new services.

5. Low cost equipment: The Brazil: "Low cost equipment: The creation and provision of low-cost access equipment WITH ENCOURAGEMENT


- 168 -

creation and provision of low-cost access equipment shall be an integral part of the agenda for reducing the digital divide.

OF LOCAL MANUFACTURING shall be an integral part of the agenda for reducing the digital divide."Mexico: "Low cost equipment: The creation and provision of low-cost accessICT equipment shall be an integral part of the agenda for reducing the digital divide and of the advance towards the Information Society."

6. Low cost connectivity: Universal access policies shall promote the best possible level of connectivity at a reasonable cost for under-served areas. In particular, unused satellite capacity should be used to improve low cost connectivity in developing countries.

Canada: "Universal access policies shallshould promote the best possible level of connectivity at affordable anda reasonable cost for all with particular initiatives for under-served areas."Israel: "… In particular, unused existingsatellite capacity should be used to improve low cost connectivity in developing countries."Mexico: Low cost connectivity: Universal access policies shall promote the best possible level of connectivity at a reasonable cost particularly for under-served areas. In particular, unusedUnused satellite capacity should be used to improve low cost connectivity in developing countries.Morocco: Add: "Launch, through ITU, technical, regulatory and operational studies with a view to promoting the provision of high-speed satellite services for under-served areas."

7. Convergence: Technological convergence must be monitored with a view to integrating traditional and new ICTs in order to create alternative forms of access that can help narrow the digital divide.

Mexico: Convergence: Technological convergence must be monitored with a view to integrating traditional and new ICTs in order to create alternative forms of access that can help narrow the digital divide.

7A Switzerland: Add new paragraph 7 A:Regulation: Governments should develop a regulatory framework that is both transparent and conducive to competition within the national market, allowing new entrants to operate on a level playing field with incumbent ICT providers. In this context, the deployment of Universal Access should be set up and based on competitive rules and licences-granting. A national fund to finance Universal Access is to be foreseen for areas and communities where the competitive market cannot ensure the deployment of Universal Access.Governments should assist all businesses to flourish, by providing a supportive economic and social environment that facilitates their success. Laws and regulations should be written so as to recognize the legitimacy of electronic documents and signatures.

8. Interconnection: The Brazil: Interconnection: THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IS GLOBAL IN


- 169 -

optimization of connections among major information networks should be promoted through the creation of regional traffic hubs to reduce interconnection costs and allow the penetration of access networks to be broadened.

ITS NATURE. A DECENTRALIZED AND PROPORTIONATE GROWTH OF THE GLOBAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE PROMOTED. NO COUNTRY OR REGION SHALL CONCENTRATE TRAFFIC FLOWS OR CONTROL THE CENTRAL PARTS AND COMPONENTS OF THE GLOBAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS TRAFFIC HUBS AND ROOT SERVERS. The optimization of connections among major information networks should be promoted through the creation AND INTERCONNECTION of regional traffic hubs to reduce interconnection costs and allow the penetration of access networks to be broadened.Canada: Interconnection fees for the use of networks and infrastructure shall should be set on the basis of objective, non-discriminatory and market-led parameters.Mexico: Interconnection: TheRegional traffic hubs: the optimization of connections among major information networks should be promoted through the creation of regional and, where appropriate, national traffic hubs to reduce interconnectionconnectivity costs and allow the penetration of access networks to be broadened.

9. Interconnection fees: Interconnection fees for the use of networks and infrastructure shall be set on the basis of objective, non-discriminatory and market-led parameters.

Brazil: Interconnection fees: COUNTRIES AND BACKBONE PROVIDERS SHOULD SHARE INTERCONNECTION COSTS. THE SHARING OF INTERCONNECTION COSTS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO DECREASE THE PRICE OF CONNECTIVITY TO END USERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, FACILITATING THE UNIVERSALIZATION OF ACCESS. Interconnection fees for the use of networks and infrastructure shall be set on the basis of objective, non-discriminatory, market-led AND COST parameters.Cuba: Add "Taking into account the need to promote universal access to those facilities, including to peoples, communities and groups in social and economic disadvantage."Mexico: Interconnection fees: Interconnection fees for the use of networks and infrastructure shall be set on the basis of objective, non-discriminatory and market-led parameters.

10. Regional infrastructure: Regional ICT backbones and exchange points should be implemented to facilitate traffic exchange between countries.

Mali: Add: "Reinvigorate the project for the modernization and extension of the existing PANAFTEL network and remove all obstacles to the implementation of the RASCOM (Regional African Satellite Communications Organization) project."Mexico: Regional and national infrastructure: Regional and national ICT backbones and exchange points should be implementeddeveloped to facilitate traffic exchange between countries.

10A Fiji: Add [10A]:"Special circumstances of Small Island Developing States (SIDS): These countries, with fragile ecosystems vulnerable to environmental hazards, and characterized by small, homogenous markets, high costs of access and equipment, human resource constraints exacerbated by the problem of "brain-drain", limited access to networks and remote locations, will require particular attention and tailored solutions to meet their needs."


- 170 -

11. Environmental protection: Governments and the business community must initiate actions as well as develop and implement programmes and projects for the environmentally safe disposal (including recycling) of discarded ICT hardware and parts.

Canada: Governments and the business community mustshould initiate actions as well as develop and implement programmes and projectsMexico: Environmental protection: Governments and the business community must initiate actions as well as develop and implement programmes and projects for the environmentally safe disposal (including recycling)protection and safety of the environment which include the recycling of discarded ICT hardware and parts.Romania-IUP: "Governments, parliaments, and the business …"

2) Access to information and knowledge

Mexico: Access to information and communication technologies and knowledge

12. Individuals and organizations should benefit from enhanced access to knowledge and information.

Mexico: Individuals and organizations should benefit from enhanced access to knowledge and reliable information.Russian Federation: The proposed wording, or its translation into Russian, is unacceptable inasmuch as the notion "individuals and organizations" requires clarification. It is not clear who "should" benefit from enhanced access to knowledge and information, and on what grounds. The provision as currently worded could have consequences of a discriminatory nature.

Australia: Observer comment [12A] "Creation of content models whereby content in digital format is freely available, while paper-printed versions or CD burned versions may be sold by institutional or commercial channels". Australia finds that while this statement is laudable in principle, such "content models" would need to be run on a purely voluntary basis, so as to not unfairly infringe on the rights of IP owners

Brazil: Add [12A]: UNIVERSAL AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO ICTS REMAINS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THE DESIGN, FINANCING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMMES WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY TO EXCLUDED POPULATIONS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SHOULD BE CONDUCTED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF COMPETENT NATIONAL AUTHORITIES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY.

13. Access to public domain information: Information in the public domain should be of high quality, easily accessible for all, including the disabled.

Canada: Information in the public domain should be of high quality and easily accessible for all, including the disabled.Publicly available information should be easily accessible for all and should take into account design standards for disabled persons. Multilingual content should be encouraged.Mexico: Access to public domain information: Information in the public domain should be of high quality, easily accessible for all, including the disabled.


- 171 -

Tanzania: Information in the public domain should be of high quality, easily accessible for all, including the disableddisadvantaged groups.

13A El Salvador: Add [13A]: "Criteria must be set as to what constitutes public information, the conditions under which it may be accessed and the standards to be observed by those who compile, publish or administer it, based on the safeguarding of the individual's right to privacy and defining the scope of its use and the responsibilities of those who have access to it."

13B Switzerland: Add new paragraph 13 B Libraries: All stakeholders should support the diverse network of existing libraries and should support those countries which plan to develop their own. A modest level of investment in new technology, training and above all, content provision could kick-start the information revolution in many regions by broadening access and developing skills.Government should establish multipurpose community public access points, providing affordable or free-of-charge access for the citizens to the Internet, and possessing sufficient capacity to provide assistance to users, in libraries, educational institutions, public administrations or other public places. The public library service should be adapted to the digital era.

13C Switzerland: Add new paragraph 13 CArchives: Governments should:• develop appropriate legislation and implementation measures ensuring access by citizens to public information on an

equal basis with due regard for protecting privacy• provide appropriate training for archives users, staff and future staff• promote policies that increase public awareness of archives and records.

14. Open standards and open-source software: Development and deployment of open-source software and standards for ICT networking should be encouraged:• Open and flexible

international and interoperable standards should be promoted to ensure that all can utilize the technology and associated

Australia: Observer comments [14] Australia does not agree with the prescriptive nature of the wording: "Open-source/free software shall be adopted by all public authorities and bodies." While open-source can in the right circumstances provide great benefits for its users (including public authorities), in many cases it or associated support services will not be appropriate, or available, for the uses they require. The Australian Government's policy position has been that public authorities should judge all the options (including open-source software) on their merits. Australia suggests changing the wording to "Adoption of open-source/free software shall be actively considered by all public authorities and bodies."Brazil: "Development and deployment of open-source software and standards for ICT networking should be encouraged TO PROVIDE FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO ICTS BY ALL CITIZENS, AT AN AFFORDABLE COST:


- 172 -

content and services to their maximum potential.

• Open-source software, including UNESCO software CDS/ISIS, multi-platform and open platform as well as interoperability standards, should be used more broadly to provide freedom of choice and to facilitate access to ICTs by all citizens, at an affordable cost.

• Standardization efforts in the field of terminology and other language resources should be intensified.

• Open and flexible international and interoperable standards should be promoted to ensure that all can utilize the technology and associated content and services to their maximum potential.

• Open-source software, including UNESCO software CDS/ISIS, multi-platform and open platform as well as interoperability standards, should be used more broadly to provide freedom of choice and to facilitate access to ICTs by all citizens, at an affordable cost

• Standardization efforts in the field of terminology and other language resources should be intensified.• DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF PUBLIC COPYLEFT SOFTWARE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED.• AWARENESS OF OPEN-SOURCE/FREE SOFTWARE COPYLEFT SOFTWARE SHOULD BE CREATED,

ESPECIALLY IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIESMexico: Open standards and open-source software: Development and deployment of open-source software and standards for ICT networking should be encouraged:• Open and flexible international and interoperable standards should be promoted to ensure that all can utilize the

technology and associated content and services to their maximum potential. • Open-source software, including UNESCO software CDS/ISIS, multi-platform and open platform as well as

interoperability standards, should be used more broadly to provide freedom of choice and to facilitate access to ICTs by all citizens, at an affordable cost.

• Standardization efforts in the field of terminology and other language resources should be intensified.Russian Federation: Development and deployment both of open standards for ICT and of open-source software and standards for ICT networking should be encouraged: ... • Open-source software, including UNESCO software CDS/ISIS, multi-platform… ".Sri Lanka: Add new bullet point:• Promote interoperability principles and metadata standards to facilitate cooperation and effective and efficient use of

collected data and information.• Promote electronic publishing, differential pricing schemes and appropriate open-source initiatives to make scientific

information affordable and accessible on an equitable basis in all countries.

Switzerland: Replace paragraph 14 by:Open international standards: Development and deployment of open, flexible and interoperable international standards for ICT networking, the creation and dissemination of content and network services, should be promoted to ensure that all can utilize the technology and associated content and services to their maximum potential. Standardization efforts in the field of terminology and other language resources should be intensified.


- 173 -

14A Switzerland: Add new paragraph 14 A:Open-source software: Development and deployment of open-source software, including the UNESCO software CDS/ISIS, should be used more broadly to provide freedom of choice and to facilitate access to ICTs by all citizens, at affordable costs.

15. Information flows: Guidelines on Internet contracts should be established and existing contracts for Internet traffic renegotiated.

Australia: This paragraph requires clarification. Brazil: Guidelines on Internet contracts should be established and existing contracts for Internet traffic renegotiated SO AS TO ALLOW MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ALL COUNTRIES.Canada: delete whole paragraph Mexico: Information flows: Guidelines on Internet contracts should be established and existing contracts for Internet traffic renegotiated, in accordance with the legal provisions of each country. These Internet contracts should include some code of ethics and available best practices.Russian Federation: "Guidelines on Internet contracts should be established and, where necessary, existing contracts for Internet traffic renegotiated".USA: object to the statement "guidelines on Internet contracts should be established and existing contracts for Internet traffic renegotiated" (paragraph 15 of the draft Action Plan).

3) The role of governments, the business sector and civil society in the promotion of ICTs for development

Romania-IPU: "The role of governments, parliaments, the business sector…"Russian Federation: "The role of governmentsStates, United Nations international organizations, the business sector and civil society in the promotion of ICTs for development".

16. The full and effective involvement of all stakeholders is vital in developing new ICT applications. The role, responsibilities and goals of each stakeholder should be clearly defined.

Canada: "The full and effective involvement of all stakeholders including women is vital in developing new ICT applications and content. The role, responsibilities and goals of each stakeholder should be clearly defined."Mexico: The full and effective involvement of all stakeholders is vital in developing new ICT applications. The role, responsibilities and goals of each stakeholder should be clearly defined.

16A Brazil: Add [16A] STATES HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN PROMOTING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION SOCIETY. DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SHOULD FORMULATE AND ADOPT A NATIONAL VISION OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY, DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING ICT-


- 174 -

STRATEGIES APPROPRIATE TO THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES AND NATIONAL INTERESTS.

16B Brazil: Add [16B] CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL POLICIES, COMPLEMENTING STATE INITIATIVES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS OF COMPETENCE AND SHARING THE BURDEN OF COSTS AND THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES INVOLVED.

17. Cooperation among Stakeholders: • Increased cooperation and

partnerships are needed between governmental and intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, civil society and the media, for effective design and implementation of various initiatives, giving priority to locally-available human resources:

Brazil:"…• The public sector should explore innovative ways to correct market failures and foster INNOVATIVE

APPROACHES INCLUDING competition to bring the Information Society to all sectors of the economy and society, especially those living in poverty.

• NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES MUST PRIORITIZE AND PROMOTE LOCAL ICT INITIATIVES TO SERVICE LOCAL, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES.

• The private sector should play an important role in the development and diffusion of ICTs.• Civil society, including NGOs, should work closely with communities in strengthening ICT-related initiatives.

THEY SHOULD BE FULLY INVOLVED IN THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ICTS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES.

…"

• The public sector should explore innovative ways to correct market failures and foster competition to bring the Information Society to all sectors of the economy and society, especially those living in poverty.

• The private sector should play an important role in the development and diffusion of ICTs.

• Civil society, including NGOs, should work closely with

Canada:"…• Civil society, including NGOs, should work closely within integrating ICTs into communities and in strengthening

ICT-related initiatives that support development.• Mass media - in their various forms - are recognized as important means of fostering public information, societal

development and social cohesion.• (PCH wants to insert sentence on importance of the role of cultural institutions and the synergies they create in the

development of society through the creation, sharing and conservation of cultural and historical information. PCH to provide sentence.)

• International and regional organizations, including financial and development institutions should play an important role assist developing countries governments in integrating the use of ICTs in the development process and making available the necessary resources.


- 175 -

communities in strengthening ICT-related initiatives.

• Mass media – in their various forms – are recognized as important means of fostering public information, societal development and social cohesion.

• International and regional organizations, including financial and development institutions should play an important role in integrating the use of ICTs in the development process and making available the necessary resources.

• International organizations should be mandated to mainstream ICTs in their work programmes and asked to prepareto assist developing country governments in preparing action plans to support the fulfillment of the goals indicated in the declaration of principles and in this action plan."

Iran: Add two new bullet points: • "Develop projects that promote dialogue within and between cultures and civilizations via electronic networks.• Promote further research programmes on issues related to the goals approved by the United Nations Millennium

Assembly especially in the developing countries."Mexico: Cooperation among Stakeholders: Increased cooperation and partnerships are needed between governmental and intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, civil society and the media, for effective design and implementation of various initiatives, giving priority to locally-available human resources: • The public sector should explore innovative ways to correct market failures and foster competition to bring the

Information Society to all sectors of the economy and society, especially those living in poverty. • The private sector should play an important role in the development and diffusion of ICTs in all sectors of the

economy and society. • Civil society, including NGOs, should work closely with communities in strengthening ICT-related initiatives. • Mass media – in their various forms – are recognized as important means of fostering public information, societal

development and social cohesion.

• International organization should be mandated to mainstream ICTs in their work programmes and asked to prepare action plans to support the fulfillment of the goals indicated in the declaration of principles and in this action plan.

• International and regional organizations, including financial and development institutions should play an important role in integrating the integration and use of ICTs in the development process and in making available the necessary resources for their development.

• International organization should be mandated to mainstream ICTs in their work programmes and asked to prepare action plans to support the fulfillment of the goals indicated in the declaration of principles and in this action plan.

Romania-IUP: "... Increased cooperation and partnerships are needed between governmental and intergovernmental organizations, parliaments, the private sector, ...".Add new bullet point: Parliaments should exercise more effectively their legislative and oversight functions with a view to creating conditions particularly favourable for promotion of ICTs for development, and should strive to enhance democracy through the use of ICTs.Russian Federation: "The public sector should improve national legislation pertaining to the building of the Information Society, explore innovative ways to correct market failures and foster competition to bring the Information Society to all sectors of the economy and society, especially those living in poverty".Switzerland: Add two new bullet points:


- 176 -

• Governments should establish and use electronic marketplace for procuring goods and services. Governments should assist local business to transact business with them using such markets.

• Multinational Corporations should play a facilitating role in the introduction of e-business through their role as a significant purchaser of goods and services locally.

17A Brazil: Add [17A] "MEASURES TO OVERCOME THE DIGITAL DIVIDE SHOULD REFLECT A CONSENSUS AND HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY THE GROWING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF ENTERPRISES, BUT ALSO THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR MORE NGO ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE NATIONAL SOCIETIES WHERE THEY OPERATE."

18. Resource mobilization: All stakeholders are urged to mobilize resources for the development of the Information Society. This could include: • increasing investment in

telecommunication infrastructure,

• building human capacity, • developing policy

frameworks, • developing culturally sensitive

local content and applications.

Canada:"…• developing culturally appropriatesensitive local content and applications."Mexico: Resource mobilization: All stakeholders are urged to mobilize resources for the development of the Information Society. This could include: • increasing investment in ICT telecommunication infrastructure, • building human capacity, • developing comprehensive policy and regulatory frameworks, • developing culturally sensitive local content and applications.El Salvador: Add bullet:• "Creating new business market based to provide services to unconnected areas."Mali: • Giving strong support to Africa for mobilizing the resources necessary for implementing NEPAD's ICT component.

19. ICT manufacturing capabilities: It is essential for governments to encourage technology transfer and investment, including venture capital, in the creation of national and regional ICT production facilities:

Brazil: "It is essential for governments to encourage technology DEVELOPMENT, transfer…• Governments should implement targeted monetary and fiscal policies to support the development of SMEs in the

ICT sector (for instance, by relaxing duties and import taxes(SUPRIMIR), and by initiating investment funds).Canada:"…• Priority shallshould be placed on strengthening local micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises

(SMEs), including women-owned enterprises, through their integration into the digital economy. Partnership


- 177 -

• Priority shall be placed on strengthening local micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through their integration into the digital economy. Partnership mechanisms and business models should be developed for fostering clustering and partnership between SMEs in developing countries and industrialized countries.

• Public policies must foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

mechanisms and business models should be developed for fostering clustering and partnership between SMEs in developing countries and industrialized countries.

• Public policies mustshould foster innovation and entrepreneurship. • The development of technology-based firms should be encouraged through venture capital funds, technology parks

and business incubators, franchising IT clubs, together with the participation of academic institutions and research networks.

• Joint stakeholder efforts to address local obstacles and seek sustainable solutions for infrastructure in underprivileged areas should be encouraged.

• Governments should implement targeted monetary and fiscal policies to support the development of SMEs in the ICT sector (for instance, by relaxing duties and import taxes, and by initiating investment funds). Governments should ensure that women-run SMEs benefit equally from these policies."

Ethiopia: Local ICT companies should be encouraged to engage themselves in the development of applications to maintain sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Export-oriented ICT products and services such as outsourcing software development projects from companies in developed countries to companies in developing countries should be encouraged and supported. Furthermore, ICT manufacturing capabilities should be encouraged through providing support to local IT companies involved in innovative activities, promoting the concept of setting up IT parks in capital cities and regional towns, supporting school IT clubs and research networks, and introducing preferential incentive schemes to encourage IT investment in the underprivileged areas.

• The development of technology-based firms should be encouraged through venture capital funds, technology parks and business incubators, franchising IT clubs, together with the participation of academic institutions and research networks.

• Joint stakeholder efforts to address local obstacles and seek sustainable solutions for infrastructure in underprivileged areas should be encouraged.

Israel: "IncentivesPriority shall be given toplaced on strengthening local micro-enterprises…"Japan: Governments should implement targeted monetary and fiscal policies to support the development of SMEs in the ICT sector (for instance, by relaxing duties and import taxes, and by initiating investment funds).Mexico: ICT manufacturingBuilding ICT capabilities: It is essential for governments to encourage technology

transfer and investment, including venture capital, in the creation of national and regional ICT production facilities:• Priority shall be placed on strengthening local micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

through their integration into the digital economy. Partnership mechanisms and business models should be developed for fostering clustering and partnership between SMEs in developing countries and industrialized countries.

• Public policies must foster innovation and entrepreneurship. • The development of technology-based firms should be encouraged through venture capital funds, technology parks

and business incubators, franchising IT clubs, together with the participation of academic institutions and research networks.

• Joint stakeholder efforts to address local obstacles and seek sustainable solutions for infrastructure in


- 178 -

• Governments should implement targeted monetary and fiscal policies to support the development of SMEs in the ICT sector (for instance, by relaxing duties and import taxes, and by initiating investment funds).

underprivileged areas should be encouraged.• Governments should implement targeted monetary and fiscal policies to support the development of SMEs in the

ICT sector (for instance, by relaxing duties and import taxes, and by initiating investment funds).

19A Australia: Add [19A] Interoperability:"Interoperability is critical to the effective use of ICT and the WSIS should seek to raise awareness of the importance of international interoperability standards for global e-commerce, and the feasibility of establishing a flexible and open global standards framework."The Australian Government is currently consulting with Australian industry and with international standards groups on a pilot standards framework utilising low-level technical ebXML standards for messaging and registry-repository functions. This could provide the basis for an open, reliable and scalable standard for international use.

19B Brazil: Add [19B] DEVELOPING COUNTRIES MUST BE AWARE THAT MAINSTREAMING ICTS INTO PUBLIC POLICIES, SUPPORTED BY MANY IN THEORY, COULD LEAD TO A SURGE IN ICT IMPORTS AND CONSUMPTION, PRESSURING THEIR BALANCE OF PAYMENTS AND PROMOTING "DE-INDUSTRIALIZATION", WITHOUT NECESSARILY PRODUCING THE DESIRED SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS. APPROPRIATE NATIONAL POLICIES MUST BE SOUGHT TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.

4) Capacity building: human resources development, education, and training

20. An ambitious and innovative approach is required in capacity building, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by ICTs.

Mexico: An ambitious and innovative approach is required in capacity building, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by ICTs.

21. ICTs in education: The use of ICTs could contribute to more

Argentina:


- 179 -

efficiency and better quality in education services. They should also contribute to reaching broad target groups: • Information regarding the

potential of new technologies in education should be disseminated through exchange of information on best practices, awareness campaigns, pilot projects, demonstrations and public discussions.

• ICTs should be incorporated in school curricula.

• "Facilitate the development of affordable solutions in terms of hardware and software tailored to the needs of all educational levels and to local conditions while promoting the combination of various media, both traditional and new."

• "Use ICTs to increase women's knowledge and thus enable gender barriers to be removed."Brazil: " ...• DEVELOP AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS IN TERMS OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TAILORED TO THE

NEEDS OF ALL EDUCATIONAL LEVELS AND TO LOCAL CONDITIONS WHILE PROMOTING THE COMBINATION OF VARIOUS MEDIA, BOTH TRADITIONAL AND NEW.

• ICTs should be incorporated in school curricula.• …• ICT EDUCATION SHOULD BE SEEN AS ONE MORE WAY TO CREATE CHALLENGING

OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB CREATION IN SPECIAL FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE."

• ICTs should be used to train trainers and to ensure better delivery of education at all levels, including outside the educational structure, at the workplace and in the home.

• Teacher's skills and curriculum resources need increased support so that teachers can act as a gateway to the Information Society.

• There should be a large-scale integration of ICTs in primary education to generate a dynamic process towards e-literacy.

• The capacity of developing and least developed countries to apply ICTs effectively in

Canada: The use of ICTs could contribute to more efficiency and better quality in education services as well as ensuring equal access to education by girls and women.• Information regarding the potential of new technologies in education should be disseminated through exchange of

information on best practices, awareness campaigns, pilot projects, demonstrations and public discussions.• ICTs should be incorporated in school curricula. All students completing secondary school should have developed a

basic grasp of ICTs • ICTs should be used to train trainers and to ensure better delivery of education at all levels, including outside the

educational structure, at the workplace and in the home. This should be done recognizing the barriers faced by women and girls in benefiting from ICTs.

• Teachers skills and curriculum resources need increased support so that teachers can act as a gateway to the Information Society.

• There should be a large-scale integration of ICTs in primary education to generate a dynamic process towards e-literacy, with equal access for girls and boys.

• The capacity of developing and least developed countries to apply ICTs effectively in education must should be enhanced through regional and international cooperation.

Japan: "There should be a large-scale integration of ICTs in primary education to generate a dynamic process towards e-literacy".


- 180 -

education must be enhanced through regional and international cooperation.

Mali: Add a bullet• Particular attention must be paid to the development of distance training by pooling available resources at the

subregional, regional and global levels and taking account of proven practices and experiences.Mexico: ICTs in education: The use of ICTs could contribute to more efficiency and better quality in education services. Like the press, radio and television, and in partnership with those media, ICTs can contribute to enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, and the sharing of knowledge and information. They should also contribute to reaching broad target groups the following: • InformationThe dissemination of information regarding the potential of new technologies in education should be

disseminated through exchange of information on best practices, awareness campaigns, pilot projects, demonstrations and public discussions.

• The incorporation of ICTs should be incorporated in school curricula.• The use of ICTs should be used to train trainers and to ensure better delivery ofgive greater momentum to education

at all levels, including outside the educational structure, at the workplace and in the home.


- 181 -

• Teacher’s Increased support for teachers' skills and curriculum resources need increased support so that teachers can act as a gateway to the Information Society.

• There should be a Promoting large-scale integration of ICTs in primary education to generate a dynamic process towards e-literacy.

• TheEnhancing the capacity of developing and least developed countries to apply ICTs effectively in education must be enhanced through regional and international cooperation.

• Securing continuous education that affords individuals the opportunity not only to make use of technological advances and acquire information, but also to innovate and develop skills related to the capacity to create, modify and synthesize knowledge.

• Focusing efforts on the review and approval of ICT-related curricula in keeping with quality standards, in order to contribute to improved training so that professional and technical managers meet the requirements of industry.

Russian Federation: "... ICTs should be incorporated in school curricula and in the curricula of teacher training institutions".• "The capacity of developing and least developed countries and countries whose economy is in transition, to apply

ICTs effectively in education must be enhanced through regional and international cooperation."

21A Brazil: Add [21A] THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN CAPITAL IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY.

21B Brazil: Add [21B] TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE WILL REQUIRE THE PROGRESSIVE INTEGRATION OF ICT RELATED SKILLS AND NOTIONS INTO NATIONAL BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULA, AS WELL AS SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND LONG DISTANCE LEARNING. DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FACE MAJOR EXISTING PROBLEMS, SUCH AS ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND INADEQUATE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AND TEACHING METHODS.

22. Capacity building for ICT use: People must have enhanced levels of ICT literacy and ICT skills to make the best use of the Information Society:

Brazil: Add as first bullet: "COMPUTER LITERACY AND EDUCATION FOR ALL ARE VITAL ELEMENTS OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY. ACCESS TO INFORMATION CAN ONLY BE MEANINGFUL IF ILLITERACY IS ERADICATED."

• Relevant education and Canada:


- 182 -

training should be promoted at every level, from primary to adult, to open up opportunities for as many people as possible, and especially the disadvantaged.

• Women should be given equal opportunities for obtaining training in the ICT field.

• Young people should be equipped with knowledge and skills in ICTs to prepare them for full participation in the Information Society.

• E-literacy courses should be aimed at training the population in the use of ICTs with a view to producing useful and socially meaningful content for the benefit of all.

"…• Relevant education and training, adapted to local needs, should be promoted at every level, from primary to adult,

including the disadvantaged. Overcoming illiteracy is a basic first step to providing access to information.• Women should be given equal opportunities for obtaining training in the ICT field.• Young people should be equipped with knowledge and skills in ICTs to prepare them for full participation in the

Information Society.• E-literacy courses should be aimed at training the population in the use of ICTs with a view to producing useful and

socially meaningful content for the benefit of all.• Intergovernmental organizations should provide resources for capacity building in ICTs.• All those still outside the reach of the formal education system should be offered education and information tailored

to their need and culture especially women and girls, who constitute the majority of school drop-outs leavers.• Community media should be used in capacity building programmes."Cuba: Add new bullet:• "Computer literacy and education for all are vital requirements of the Information Society. Access to information can

only be meaningful if illiteracy is eradicated. Quality education through lifelong learning is vital for critical assessment and evaluation of information by everyone"

• Intergovernmental organizations should provide resources for capacity building in ICTs.

• All those still outside the reach of the formal education system should be offered education and information tailored to their need and culture.

Mexico: Capacity building for ICT use: People must have enhanced adequate levels of ICT literacy and ICT skills to make the best use of the Information Society. To that end:• Relevant education and training should be promoted at every level, from primary to adult, to open up opportunities

for as many people as possible, and especially the disadvantaged.• Women should be given equal opportunities for obtaining training in the ICT field.• Young people should be equipped with knowledge and skills in ICTs to prepare them for full participation in the

Information Society.• E-literacy courses should be aimed at training the population in the use of ICTs with a view to producing useful and

socially meaningful content for the benefit of all.

• Community media should be used in capacity building programmes.

• Intergovernmental organizations should provide resources for capacity building in ICTs.• All those still outside the reach of the formal education system should be offered education and information tailored


- 183 -

to their need and culture.• Community Traditional media should be used in capacity building programmes.Sri Lanka: Add two new bullet points:• Promote sustainable capacity building and education initiatives to ensure that the new opportunities offered by ICTs

for the production and sharing of scientific data and information can be realized in all countries.• Encourage initiatives to increase scientific literacy and consumer awareness of how to select and interpret scientific

information published on the World Wide Web, recognizing the key role of the media in communicating science.

Switzerland: Add one bullet point:• e-facilitation: Local businesses should be informed of e-business concepts and practices to help them succeed.

Written guides and active facilitation centres should be developed and widely distributed for this purpose.Tunisia: Change "capacity building" to "capacity development" in order to highlight the need to further enhance what actually exists.

23. Training ICT specialists: Basic and advanced education should be improved to help create a critical mass of highly qualified and skilled ICT professionals and experts:• Education in network

infrastructure development and operation is critical for the availability of efficient, reliable, competitive and secure ICT network services.

Canada:Basic and advanced education should be improved and made accessible to girls and women to help create a critical mass of highly qualified and skilled ICT professionals and experts:• Education in network infrastructure development and operation is critical for the availability of efficient, reliable,

competitive and secure ICT network services.• The formation and maintenance of a workforce to act as a pillar of the Information Society shall should be

undertaken in close cooperation with the private sector and civil society in general.• Women should be encouraged to enter and continue in this field through specific measures and programmes

(advertising campaigns, scholarships) • South to North brain drain should be prevented, in particular through the creation by governments of an adequate

environment to keep trained people.

• The formation and maintenance of a workforce to act as a pillar of the Information Society shall be undertaken in close cooperation with the private

Japan: "South to North brain drain should be prevented, in particular through the creation by governments of an adequate environment to keep trained people."Mali: Add: The exchange of experiences between specialists in different fields should be encouraged as a means of contributing effectively to the transfer of know-how and knowledge.Mexico: Training ICT specialists: Basic and advanced education should be improved to help create a critical mass of


- 184 -

sector and civil society in general.

• South to North brain drain should be prevented, in particular through the creation by governments of an adequate environment to keep trained people.

highly qualified and skilled ICT professionals and experts:• Education in network infrastructure development and operation is critical for the availability of efficient, reliable,

competitive and secure ICT network services.• The formation and maintenance of a workforce to act as a pillar of the Information Society shall be undertaken in

close cooperation with the private sector and civil society in general.• South to North brain drain should be prevented, in particular through the creation by governments of Governments

should create an adequate environment to prevent South to North brain drain keep trained people.Russian Federation: "... South to North and East to West brain drain should be prevented, in particular through the creation by governments of an adequate environment to keep trained people".

5) Security

24. Secure and reliable infrastructure: The security of networks has emerged as one of the critical issues for the continued growth of electronic commerce and the use of the new technologies more generally:

Brazil: • "Special mechanisms shall be put in place to encourage the banking AND BUSINESS sector to develop secure and

reliable applications to facilitate online transactions AND E-COMMERCE."Canada:• Special mechanisms shall should be put in place to encourage the financial services banking sector to develop secure

and reliable applications to facilitate online transactions.• All stakeholders should have the necessary mechanisms in place to ensure that their computer systems are protected,

their systems are able to detect unauthorized activity, they are able to respond to such unauthorized activity and recover quickly from any damage done to their systems after such activity.

• All stakeholders concerned with ICT issues should take the necessary steps to enhance security, user confidence and other aspects of information and system/network integrity in order to avoid the risk of wholesale disruption and destruction of the network systems on which they are increasingly dependent.

• This will require appropriate

Japan: Delete bullet: "Special mechanisms shall be put in place to encourage the banking sector to develop secure and reliable applications to facilitate online transactions"Mexico: Secure and reliable infrastructure: The security of networks has emerged as one of the critical issues for the continued growth of electronic commerce and the use of the new technologies ICTs more generally. It is therefore necessary: • All stakeholders concerned with ICT issues shouldto take the necessary steps to enhance security, user confidence

and other aspects of information and system/network integrity in order to avoid the systematic risk of wholesale disruption and destruction of the network systems on which theyall are increasingly dependent.;

• This will require appropriate to establish or strengthen national legislative frameworks that safeguard the public interest and the general interest, particularly that of consumers, and that foster electronic communications and transactions.;


- 185 -

national legislative frameworks that safeguard the public and general interest and that foster electronic communications and transactions.

• It will also require raising awareness of information security issues, and the rapidly evolving complexity, capacity and reach of information technology, the anonymity offered by these technologies, and the trans-national nature of communication frameworks.

• Special mechanisms shall be put in place to encourage the banking sector to develop secure and reliable applications to facilitate online transactions.

• It will also require raising to raise awareness of information security issues, and the rapidly evolving complexity, capacity and reach of ICTs information technology, the anonymity offered by these technologies, and the trans-national nature of communication frameworks.;

• Special mechanisms shall be to put in place special mechanisms to encourage the banking sector to develop secure and reliable applications to facilitate online transactions.


- 186 -

25. Information Security: Effective information security could be guaranteed not only by technology, but also by education and training, policy and law, and international cooperation. The United Nations should be supported in its efforts aimed at: • Assessing the information

security situation, including harmful interference or abuse using information and communication systems and information resources.

• Developing methods for protection and creating a rapid reaction organization to deal with security violations, as well as exchanging information and technology to combat violations.

• Studying the long-term possibility of creating an international convention on the security of information and communication networks.

Brazil: " ...• Studying the long-term possibility of creating an international convention ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE AND

on the security of information and communication networks.• …• INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION SHOULD BE DEVELOPED TO FIGHT ALL FORMS OF THE

SURVEILLANCE AND MONITORING SYSTEM INFRINGING UPON THE VALUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY.

• PROTECTION AGAINST ILLEGAL MONITORING OF PRIVATE INFORMATION HELD BY CIVIL SOCIETY AND PRIVATE SECTOR MUST BE ASSURED.

• NATIONAL COMPULSORY PROJECTS USING ICTS, SUCH AS ELECTRONIC NATIONAL ID CARD INITIATIVES AND ELECTRONIC HEALTH CARE CARD INITIATIVES, SHOULD BE PRUDENTLY ASSESSED, WITH CONSIDERATION OF PRIVACY ISSUES."

Japan: The United Nations should be supported in its efforts aimed at International cooperation should be promoted. For example:• "Studying the long-term possibility of creating an international convention on the security of information and

communication networks. Studying the long-term possibility of pursuing international efforts on the security of information and communication networks."

Mexico: Information Security: Effective information security could be guaranteed not only by technology, but also by education and training, policy and law, and international cooperation. The United Nations should accordingly be supported in its efforts aimed at: • Assessing the information security situation, including harmful interference or abuse using information and

communication systems ICTs and information resources. • Developing methods for the protection of ITCs and creating a rapid reaction organization to deal with so as to avoid

violations of their security violations, as well as exchanging protecting the exchange of information and technology to combat violations.

• Studying the long-term possibility of creating an international convention instrument on the security of information and communication networks.

Recognizing the principle of fair, equitable and appropriate access to ICTs for all countries, special attention should be paid to the fact that ICTs can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security, and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure within States, to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields.


- 187 -

• Recognizing the principle of fair, equitable and appropriate access to ICTs for all countries, special attention should be paid to the fact that ICTs can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security, and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure within States, to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields.

New Zealand: NZ acknowledges the need for effective information security (article 25 of the draft action plan), but would be wary of establishing an entire new organization - if this is what is envisaged by "creating a rapid reaction organization to deal with security violations". New Zealand would want first to establish that a need for an eventual new convention exists before lending support to the reference to the possibility of an international convention on the security of information and communication networks.Russian Federation: Studying the long-term possibility of creating an international convention on the security of information and communication networks.

26. Creating a global culture of cyber-security: In the long term, a "global culture of cyber-security", should be developed, based on a common understanding of regulations and appropriate mechanisms for information and technology exchange and international cooperation. It is important to strike the right balance between measures to enhance security and the need to ensure the protection of data and privacy as well as to avoid the creation of new barriers to trade. Due attention should be given to the principle of technological neutrality.

Australia: Add "Supporting the creation of mechanisms for the early detection and warning of computer viruses, trojans, worms and other malicious computer network attacks on both public and private networks. These could be based on the proven methodologies and systems with the CERTS that have been established in a range of countries. The methodology for development of this proposal could also draw upon the eSecurity work of the APEC Tel Working Group, such as the development of information seminars and of CERT guidelines and related training."Canada: "In the long term, a "global culture of cyber-security" should be developed, based on a common understanding of regulations and appropriate mechanisms for information and technology exchange and international cooperation. It is important to strike the right balance between measures to enhance security and the need to ensure the protection of data and privacy as well as to avoid the creation of new barriers to trade. Due attention should be given to the principle of technological neutrality."Japan: In the long term, a "global culture of cyber-security", should be developed, based on a common understanding of regulations and appropriate mechanisms for information and technology exchange and international cooperation. It is important to strike the right balance between measures to enhance security and the need to ensure the protection of data and privacy as well as to avoid the creation of new barriers to trade. Due attention should be given to the principle of technological neutrality. UN resolution (UNGA Resolution 57/239) , and the United Nations should be supported in its efforts aimed at promoting a global culture of cyber-security. "


- 188 -

Mexico: Creating a global culture of cyber-security: In the long term, a “global culture of cyber-security”, should be developed, based on a common understanding of regulations and appropriate mechanisms for information and technology exchange and international cooperation. It is important to strike the right balance between measures to enhance security and the need to ensure the protection of data and privacy as well as to avoid the creation of new barriers to trade. Due attention should be given to the principle of technological neutrality.

26A Brazil: Add [26A] A GLOBAL CULTURE OF CYBERSECURITY SHALL BE CREATED, WITH DUE RESPECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO COMMUNICATION, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PRIVACY.

26B Brazil: Add [26B] A MULTILATERAL, TRANSPARENT AND DEMOCRATIC MECHANISM OF INTERNET GOVERNANCE SHALL CONSTITUTE THE BASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GLOBAL CULTURE OF CYBERSECURITY.

26C Brazil: Add [26C] RESPONSIBILITY FOR SECURING THE CYBERSPACE MUST BE SHARED BY ALL COUNTRIES, ACCORDING TO THEIR LEVEL OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. CONCERNS OVER CYBERSECURITY MUST NOT OVERRIDE THE DEVELOPMENT-ORIENTED FOCUS OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FACE SHORTAGE OF HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DEVELOP ICTs SOCIAL APPLICATIONS, SUCH AS DISTANCE LEARNING, TELEMEDICINE AND TELEWORK.

27. Fighting cybercrime: Protection from civil and criminal offences ("cybercrime") is essential in order to build trust in information networks:

Canada:"…• A multi-pronged approach is needed to tackle cybercrime on all fronts, with emphasis on preventive approaches,

national guidelines and regional and international cooperation. At the same time, action to address cybercrime and to ensure a safe and secure Information Society must respect the sovereignty of nations and maintain respect for the constitutional and other rights of all persons, including freedom of expression]]."

Canada proposes further elaboration of this bullet point

• A multi-pronged approach is needed to tackle cybercrime, on all fronts, with emphasis on preventive approaches, national guidelines and regional and international

Iran: Add three new bullet points• "Within their field of competence, international organizations especially UNESCO have a specific role and

responsibility for action. In particular, a clearing house should be established for the exchange of information and to promote cooperation among groups concerned with child abuse.

• Disseminate information among researchers, and promote exchange of information among child care and child


- 189 -

cooperation. At the same time, action to address cybercrime and to ensure a safe and secure Information Society must respect the sovereignty of nations and maintain respect for the constitutional and other rights of all persons, including freedom of expression.

• Existing legal instruments, such as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, offer the international community a foundation from which to build.

protection organizations, ISPs, Web masters, police and judicial institutions, media practitioners, citizens and civic groups and other concerned groups.

• Establish an international legal framework to prohibit producing and circulating pornographic contents and harmful materials throughout the Internet under the auspices of UNESCO."

Mexico: Fighting cybercrime: Protection from civil and criminal offences (“cybercrime”) is essential in order to build trust in information networks: • A multi-pronged approach is needed to tackle cybercrime, on all fronts, with emphasis on preventive approaches,

national guidelines and regional and international cooperation. At the same time, action to address cybercrime and Such guidelines shall aim to ensure a safe and secure Information Society, respecting must respect the sovereignty of nations and maintain respect for the constitutional and other the rights of all persons, including freedom of expression.

• Existing legal instruments, such as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, offer the international community a foundation from which to build.

Romani-IUP: " ... At the same time, action to address cybercrime and cyberdiscrimination and to ensure a safe and secure Information Society must respect the sovereignty …".

Russian Federation: " ... with emphasis on preventative approaches, including the development and improvement of national legislation aimed at preventing and combating cybercrime, national guidelines and regional ...". The scope of § 27 should also be expanded to encompass the need to combat the use of ICTs for terrorist purposes.Tunisia: Change "including freedom of expression" to "particularly freedom of expression".Change "legal instruments" to "legal mechanisms".

27A Russian Federation: Add"Given the current fears that information and communication technologies could be used for purposes that are incompatible with efforts to secure international stability and security and that could have a negative impact on both the civil and military security of States, and given also the need to prevent the use of information resources or technologies for criminal or terrorist ends, the following measures are required:

1) the creation of appropriate mechanisms for increasing the level of awareness regarding the importance of ensuring security in the area of information and communication networks;

2) examination of existing and potential threats to the security of information and communication networks and of ways and means of combating such threats;

3) broadening of the scale of technical information exchanges and international cooperation aimed at enhancing the


- 190 -

security of information and communication networks;4) a contribution to the efforts being made within the framework of the United Nations system with a view to:• assessing the status of information security, including harmful interference or the abusive use of information and

communication systems and information resources;• developing methods to combat infringements of security and establishing organizations to provide an effective

response in the event of such infringements, as well as exchanging information and technical facilities to that end;• examining the possibility of developing, in the long term, an international convention on security in the field of

information networks and communication networks."

27B Switzerland: Add new paragraph 27 B:"Governments should develop principles and rules in their national legislation, policy and practice on security, privacy and consumer protection in order to create trust and confidence among the users of the Internet. The OECD's guidelines on these matters (Guidelines for Privacy Protection, Guidelines for the Security of Information Systems, Guidelines for Consumer Protection in the Context of Electronic Commerce, New Policy and Practical Guidance to Implement the 1980 Privacy Guidelines on Global Networks) provide a minimal standard and could be the basis for a global trust agenda.WSIS should develop and endorse an instrument with principles and rules based on these guidelines.Governments should, in collaboration with the business sector, adopt a specific common policy against the inherently global threat of crimes committed using information technology - cybercrime - through legislation and international cooperation. The Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime lays down balanced standards and creates a cooperation process open to all States.Governments should develop national data protection laws that strike a fair balance between respect for the privacy of individuals and the free flow of information between peoples. This balance is the essence of the Council of Europe's Data Protection Convention, also open to all States. WSIS should develop and endorse an instrument with principles and rules based on the Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime and its Additional Protocol, as well as the Council of Europe's Data Protection Convention and its Additional Protocol.

6) Enabling environment

28. Good governance: To maximize the economic and social benefits of the Information Society, governments need to create a trustworthy, transparent,

Australia suggests abbreviating the paragraph to: "With the active participation of all stakeholders, the development of an enabling environment should give due regard to the rights and obligations of all stakeholders." Canada: • "With the active participation of all stakeholders, including women, the development of an enabling environment


- 191 -

and non-discriminatory legal, regulatory and policy environment, capable of promoting technological innovation and competition, thus favouring the necessary investments, mainly from the private sector, in the deployment of infrastructures and development of new services: • Commitment and

responsibility should be defined at the national and regional levels.

• With the active participation of all stakeholders, the development of an enabling environment should give due regard to the rights and obligations of all stakeholders in such areas as freedom of expression, consumer protection, privacy, security, intellectual property rights, open-source solutions and management of Internet addresses and domain names, while also maintaining economic incentives and ensuring trust and confidence for business activities.

should give due regard to the rights and obligations of all stakeholders in such areas as freedom of expression,…"Cuba: "Commitment and responsibility should be defined at the international, national and regional levels." Mexico: Good governance: To maximize the economic and social benefits of the Information Society, governments need to create should develop a trustworthy, transparent, and non-discriminatory legal, regulatory and policy environment, capable both of promoting technological innovation and competition, thus favouring and of providing the right incentives for the necessary investments, mainly from the private sector, in the deployment of infrastructures and development of new services. To that end: • Commitment and responsibility should be defined at the national, and regional and global levels. • With the active participation of all stakeholders, the development of an enabling environment should give due regard

to the rights and obligations of all stakeholders in such areas as freedom of expression, consumer protection, privacy, security, intellectual property rights, open-source solutions and management of Internet addresses and domain names, while also maintaining economic incentives and ensuring trust and confidence security for business activities.

Sri Lanka: Add new bullet point: • Recognize that there is an important role for science in developing and implementing the new governance

mechanisms that are necessary in the information society.

28A Brazil: Add [28A] TO MAXIMIZE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS OF THE "INFORMATION SOCIETY", DEVELOPING COUNTRIES NEED TO CREATE A CLEAR AND EFFECTIVE LEGAL, REGULATORY AND POLICY ENVIRONMENT, SUITED TO THEIR NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS. THE PROMOTION OF LOCAL TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITAL INCLUSION


- 192 -

SHOULD BE FACTORED IN THE NATIONAL POLICIES.

28B Brazil: Add [28B] THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY FOR DEVELOPMENT BASED UPON THE UTILIZATION OF ICTS SHOULD BE GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND UNIVERSALITY, SUCH AS ACCESS FOR EVERYONE EVERYWHERE, AT A COST TRULY WITHIN THE REACH OF THE PUBLIC.

28C Brazil: Add [28C] POLICIES SHOULD BE CONCEIVED AND IMPLEMENTED WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PUBLIC INTEREST .

28D Switzerland: Add new paragraph: "Public Statistics: All countries should develop their statistical infrastructure and guarantee high-quality, independent and free access to statistical information. They should provide basic statistical indicators and analysis on the developments of key dimensions of the Information Society. Priority should be given to setting up coherent and internationally comparable indicator systems."

29. Market environment: The availability of telecommunication infrastructures and affordable telecommunications services and ICT equipment are prerequisites for accessing and using ICTs for all: • Competition, including in the

local access network, should be promoted to drive down prices and to ensure the ongoing modernization of networks and services.

Brazil:• Competition, including in the local INNOVATIVE APPROACHES SUCH AS COMPETITION, INCLUDING THE

BETTER USE OF THE LOCAL access network, should be promoted to drive down prices and to ensure the ongoing modernization of networks and services.

• Investment in rural communications should be encouraged through THE AVAILABILITY OF ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS AND an attractive legal framework.

• Duties levied on ICT hardware and software should be removed SET IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES AND ICT EQUIPMENT.

• Monopoly in mass communication should be avoided and diversity in the sources of information should be promoted.

• Investment in rural communications should be encouraged through an attractive legal framework.

• In order to secure prompt settlement of disputes, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) should be considered along with normal judicial proceedings, AS LONG AS THEY RESPECT THE SOVEREIGNTY OF NATIONS AND MAINTAIN RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS, INCLUDING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.


- 193 -

• Duties levied on ICT hardware and software should be removed.

• Monopoly in mass communication should be avoided and diversity in the sources of information should be promoted.

• In order to secure prompt settlement of disputes, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) should be considered along with normal judicial proceedings.

• LOCAL, SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE ENTERPRISES SHOULD BE FOSTERED.Canada:• "Investment in rural communications should be encouraged through an attractive legal and fiscal frameworks."Cuba: Add bullet point:• "Nevertheless, competition is only one out of many ways to drive down prices and to ensure the ongoing

modernization of networks and services. In several cases, an active involvement of governments through public investments and programmes of development, it is of strategic importance. Furthermore, international cooperation will be necessary to assist developing countries facing special difficulties in the fulfillment of this objective".

Mali: • Investment in rural communications should be encouraged through an attractive legal framework.Mexico: The availability of telecommunication ICT infrastructures and affordable telecommunications services and ICT equipment and the provision of the services and equipment offered by ICTs are prerequisites for accessing and using ICTs. Consequently, in accordance with the legal provisions of each country, it is necessary to promote for all: • Healthy competitionCompetition, including in the local access network, should be promoted to drive down prices

and to ensure the ongoing modernization of networks and their services. • Investment in rural communications should be encouraged through an attractive legal framework.• The removal of dutiesDuties levied on ICT hardware and software should be removed.• Monopoly in mass communication should be avoided and diversityDiversity in the sources of information should be

promoted.• In order to secure promptPrompt settlement of disputes, through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) should be

considered along with normal judicial proceedings.

Rep. of Korea: Modify ADR on the paragraph 29 more substantial or make a new paragraph for ADR after paragraph 32 as follows: "Establishing an effective dispute settlement system: Building trust for the development of the Information Society is essential. Alternative Dispute R esolution( ADR) should be considered along with normal judicial proceeding, so that ICT users can effectively and promptly resolve the disputes. ADR should be based on independence, fairness and transparency in consideration of users ' affordability, accessibility and the principle of settling the disputes between the parties concerned."

29A Switzerland: Add new paragraph 29 A:" Poverty reduction: In order to mainstream access and effective use of ICTs by poor people, actors of the public and private domain should envisage the following non-discriminatory actions (as far as the competitive market is not able to


- 194 -

ensure it):• create a regulatory environment which takes the specific needs of poor people into account, by exempting service

providers in rural areas from operating fees, by asymmetric interconnection fees in promoting rural-urban connections over urban-rural traffic, by tax exemption of telecom equipment for rural areas, etc.

• take positive actions in favour of poor people, in particular, establish transparent national funds for universal access or an equivalent measure to support effective ICT access in remote regions and by marginalized people

• promote the creation, dissemination and exchange of local, relevant content, according to local needs • encourage direct and gender balanced representation of the poor (in particular community based organizations,

NGOs) in the national and international arena (multilateral negotiations, NGO advocacy, media) and empower local institutions and networks to combat poverty

• ensure gender balanced services, notably by a women-inclusive training policy and by respecting gender balance in employment for ICT-related jobs

• mainstream ICT attention in the elaboration and implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP)

28B Switzerland: Add new paragraph 29 B:" Employment creation: Actors of the public and private domain need to promote an enabling environment for the use of ICTs in the productive sector in order to create employment, in particular by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and support start-ups in order to generate additional income.

29C Switzerland: Add new paragraph 29 A:Research: Governments should encourage research to develop a greater understanding of the role of ICTs in economic growth and social development and to identify best practices revealing ICTs' impact on growth, development and their enabling factors. A sound analytical base helps create a convincing case for the required policy strategies and reforms likely to generate economic gains and social benefits. Guidelines for policies that need to be put in place should be developed by 2005.

30. Standardization: The development of the Information Society must be based on platforms of internationally interoperable technical standards, accessible for all, and technological innovation of ICTs,

Canada: The development of the Information Society must should be based on platforms of internationally interoperable technical standards, accessible for all, and technological innovation of ICTs, as well as systems to promote the exchange of knowledge at global, regional and sub-regional levels, through any media.Czech Rep.: Need to mention the importance of norms and standardization for effective ICTs use, and to consider the establishment of an international organization for the standardization of cross-border data exchange. Mexico: Standardization: The development of the Information Society must be based on platforms of internationally interoperable technical standards, accessible for all, and technological innovation of ICTs, as well as systems to


- 195 -

as well as systems to promote the exchange of knowledge at global, regional and sub-regional levels, through any media.

promote the exchange of knowledge at global, regional and sub-regional levels, through any media.

31. Spectrum management: The radio frequency spectrum should be managed in the public and general interest and in accordance with the basic principle of legality, with full observance of national laws and regulations and international agreements governing the management of frequencies.

Mexico: Spectrum management: The radio frequency spectrum should be managed in the public and general interest and in accordance with the basic principle of legality, with full observance of national laws and regulations and international agreements governing the management of frequencies.

32. Consumer protection: There is a real consumer fear concerning the loss of privacy as well as in relation to the fight against illegal and harmful content and the protection of minors. Assurance of the confidentiality of personal information is essential in building the Information Society.

Australia:A vital aspect of securing consumer confidence in electronic commerce is to ensure that consumer transactions occur within a sound legal framework. Australia believes that consumers using electronic commerce should be provided with protection that is at least equivalent to that provided to consumers using other forms of commerce.Canada: There is a real consumer fear concerning the loss of privacy, the loss of consumers' rights during commercial transactions as well as concerns with in relation to the fight against illegal and harmful content and the protection of minors. Assurance of the confidentiality of personal information is essential in building the Information Society. In addition, policies and codes to address spamming are increasingly important for consumer protection.

Korea: Modify paragraph: "There is a real consumer fear concerning the loss of privacy as well as in relation to the fight against illegal and harmful content and the protection of minors. Assurance of the confidentiality of personal information is essential in building the Information Society. Consumer protection: Offering widespread advantages to consumers who access information and knowledge through ICTs, and reducing significant risks without destroying the advantages are essential in building the Information Society. There is a real consumer fear concerning the loss of privacy, the fraudulent practices and the protection of minors. • The confidentiality of personal information should be preserved , • Fraud, misrepresentation and unfairness by suppliers should be avoided ,


- 196 -

• Damages caused by failure to perform and defective products should be recovered , • Illegal and harmful content should not be created and supplied ."Mexico: Consumer protection: There is a real consumer fear concerning the loss of privacy as well as in relation to the fight against illegal and harmful content and the protection of minors. Assurance of the confidentiality of personal information is essential in building the Information Society, as there is a real consumer fear concerning the loss of privacy as well as in relation to the fight against illegal and harmful content and the protection of minors.Tanzania: To have compelling interest in the shielding contents inappropriate for minor or those that promote behaviour that might endanger minors and society.

32A Australia: Add [32A]: "Spam: Spam is a significant and growing problem. There is a need to examine options to help treat the problem such as a holistic approach to restrict the activities of spammers and minimize the damage they do, whilst still accommodating legitimate and responsible direct marketing activities. This will involve ISPs playing their part, both in educating their users and in dealing with spammers and spamming activity. Countries need to cooperate to help detect, prosecute or deter international scams using spam. More work is necessary to counter the problem, requiring broad international commitment, cooperation and resources."

33. Internet governance: A transparent and democratic governance of the Internet shall constitute the basis for the development of a global culture of cyber-security. An [international][intergovernmental] organization should ensure multilateral, democratic and transparent management of root servers, domain names and Internet Protocol (IP) address assignment.

Australia: For the reasons discussed in paragraph 44 of the Draft WSIS Declaration, Australia believes it is appropriate that administrative and coordination activities related to the Internet remain the responsibility of an organization with broad stakeholder input. See the suggested words in the Declaration of Principles.Brazil: "Internet governance: INTERNET GOVERNANCE HAS EMERGED AS A KEY ISSUE OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY. A transparent, MULTILATERAL and democratic governance of the Internet…"Canada: A transparent and democratic governance of the Internet shall constitute the basis for the development of a global culture of cyber-security. An [international][intergovernmental] organisation should ensure multilateral, democratic and transparent management of root servers, domain names and Internet Protocol (IP) address assignment. Internet governance should be multilateral and transparent, taking into account the needs of the public and private sectors as well as those of the civil society, and respecting multilingualism. The coordination responsible for root servers, domain names and Internet Protocol (IP) address assignment should rest with a suitable organization.Mexico: Internet governance: A transparent and democratic governance of the Internet shall constitute the basis for the development of a global culture of cyber-security. An [international][intergovernmental] organisation should ensure multilateral, democratic and transparent management of root servers, domain names and Internet Protocol (IP) address assignment.

New Zealand agrees that policy authority for country code top-level-domain names (ccTLDs) should be the sovereign right of countries as noted in the declaration of principles (Article 44). However, New Zealand is concerned that Article 33 of the action plan may be taken to imply that a new governance body should be established replacing the


- 197 -

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) which is currently undertaking this responsibility, or that such work should be incorporated into an existing UN body such as the ITU. It would be preferable for the action plan to call for countries to support coordination of standardisation and development work being undertaken in this area by the ITU and other intergovernmental organisations and to support the work of the Government Advisory Committee of ICANN.

Brazil: Add [33A] THE INTERNET IS THE BASE OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY. THE INTERNET MUST BE CONSIDERED A PUBLIC, INTERNATIONAL DOMAIN. EVERY COUNTRY AND EVERY PERSON HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE CONNECTED AND TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS OFFERED BY THE INTERNET. THE ADMINISTRATION OF ROOT SERVERS, DOMAIN NAMES AND INTERNET PROTOCOL ADDRESSES MUST BE UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A MULTILATERAL, DEMOCRATIC AND TRANSPARENT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. FULL ACCESS TO THE MECHANISMS OF INTERNET GOVERNANCE MUST BE GRANTED TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.Japan: "An [international][intergovernmental] organization should ensure multilateral…"


- 198 -

34. Intellectual property rights: It is important to ensure a balance between intellectual property rights (IPR) and the public interest:• While IPRs play a vital role in

fostering innovation in software, e-commerce and associated trade and investment, there is a need to promote initiatives to ensure fair balance between IPRs and the interests of the users of information, while also taking into consideration the global consensus achieved on IPR issues in multilateral organizations.

• An appropriate legal framework should be defined for the development of a public domain of information and knowledge.

• Protection against unfair use of indigenous knowledge should be developed.

Australia: ensure fair balance between IPRs and the interests of the users of informationensure fair balance between the interests of intellectual property owners and those of the users of information". Australia believes that the original wording implies that users have no intellectual property rights - which is an issue strongly debated in IP circles.Observer comment [34] 3d bullet: Australia suggests that, with reference to promoting the use of peer-to-peer technology, more technology neutral language be used. This will ensure that the Declaration does not become quickly outdated with changes in technology and avoid the impression that any particular technologies are favoured. Australia suggests an alternative form of words as: "Use of appropriate technology shall be promoted to share personal scientific knowledge and pre-prints and reprints written by scientific authors who have waived their rights to payment".Observer comments [34] on databases: The term "compilation work" is unclear and potentially broad. Australia therefore believes that, rather than automatically excluding all work that can be defined as "compilation work" from copyright protection, it would be more appropriate to specify that work must involve creative effort to attract protection. Also, Australia considers that the requirement that the fee (for access to databases) be "proportionate to the average income in the customer's country" is too prescriptive. While we agree that only reasonable fees should be charged, with the development of the Internet and the global market place, it is impractical and potentially anti-competitive to place price restrictions on material by region. This requirement could lead to the inflation of fees in developed nations such as Australia without reducing fees for developing nations in real terms.Canada:• While IPRs play a vital role in fostering innovation in software, e-commerce and associated trade and investment,

there is a need to promote initiatives to ensure fair balance between IPRs and recognize the interests of the users of information, while also taking into consideration the global consensus achieved on IPR issues in multilateral organizations.

• An appropriate legal framework should be defined for the development of a public domain of information and knowledge. Similar reference in Declaration; Canada seeks clarification. Does this text refer to or seek better access to works in the public domain?

• Protection against unfair use of indigenous knowledge should be developed Appropriate measures to protect against unfair use of Traditional Knowledge could be explored. Canada seeks clarification of issue.

Mexico: Intellectual property rights: It is important to ensure a balance between intellectual property rights (IPR) and the public interest:• While IPRs play a vital role in fostering innovation in software, e-commerce and associated trade and investment,

there is a need to promote initiatives to ensure fair balance between IPRs and the interests of the users of


- 199 -

information, while also taking into consideration the global consensus achieved on IPR issues in multilateral organizations.

• The extension of the term of protection of proprietary rights, and the so-called "dominio pagante" ("domaine public payant"), should be eliminated in order to achieve the balance.

• An appropriate legal framework should be defined for the development of a public domain of information and knowledge.

• Protection against unfair and undue use of indigenous knowledge should be developed.New Zealand: Article 34 of the draft action plan contains a number of statements about intellectual property rights which present significant difficulties for New Zealand's intellectual property rights framework: • Existing intellectual property rights statutes already balance the rights of owners and the interests of users of

intellectual property. International treaties set minimum standards, both in terms of what must be protected and criteria for exceptions to IPRs. Beyond this States have the freedom to determine where the balance should lie to best suit their economic and other policy objectives. It would seem inappropriate and unnecessary to promote initiatives that stipulate where the balance should lie. This should remain a matter for domestic decision, taking account of economic circumstances, including for example, whether a State is a net importer or exporter of intellectual property. It would be more appropriate if the statement simply noted that IPR legislation balances the rights of the owners of IPRs with the interests of users.

• The reference to an appropriate legal framework for the development of a public domain of information and knowledge is redundant. Intellectual property law makes it quite clear that IPRs do not apply to public domain information (information to which IPRs do not apply or where IPRs have expired or been waived). Public domain material may be freely used so there is no need for a framework. It should also be noted that IPRs do not apply to information per se (e.g. copyright only applies to expression, not information).

• It may be that the statement has not been clearly expressed, i.e. it may be intended to refer to information that is not in the public domain and imply that it should be there. That would cut across existing IPR frameworks (both domestic and international), and reduce incentives to create and innovate. New Zealand would not support such a reference.

New Zealand also strongly recommends that the document make specific reference to work underway on IP issues in other contexts, including the World Intellectual Property Organization, so that it is clear the extent to which issues raised in this document are already being addressed elsewhere in the international system.

Sri Lanka: Add new item: Ensure that any legal regime on database protection guarantees full and open access to data created with public funding. Restrictions on proprietary data should also be designed so as to maximize availability for academic research and teaching purposes.


- 200 -

7) Promotion of development-oriented ICT applications for all

35. ICTs can support social and economic development. But it is also important to ensure that traditional models are recognized and respected, so that the non-users of ICTs are not marginalized. The following examples are intended to illustrate the potential for this.

Mexico: ICTs can support social and economic development. But it is also important to ensure that traditional models are recognized and respected, so that the non-users of ICTs are not marginalized. The following examples are intended to illustrate the potential for this.Sri Lanka: Support urgently needed research on the use of existing and novel information technologies in key areas, such as tele-medicine and education. the socio-economic value of public-domain information anti open access regimes.

36. E-Government: Public administrations should use ICT tools to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency - at all levels of government, and in particular at the local level: • In the delivery of public

services to citizens and to enterprises.

• In the design of online services, adapted to the needs of citizens and businesses.

• In the better management of financial, human and public resources and goods.

Brazil: E-Government: Public administrations should use ICT tools TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES TO ITS CITIZENS AND to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency - at all levels of government, and in particular at the local level:Mexico: E-Government: Public administrations should use ICT tools to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency - at all levels of government, and in particular at the local level: • In the delivery of public services to citizens and to enterprises. • In the design of online services, adapted to the needs of citizens and businesses.• In the better management of financial, human and public resources and goods.Romania-IPU: "… In the delivery of public services to citizens and to enterprises, including online access to legislation".Sri Lanka: Add new bullet point: Provide long - term support for the systematic and efficient collection, preservation and provision of essential digital data, e.g. population and meteorological data, in all countries.

Switzerland: Replace paragraph 36 by:"Governments should, within their national e-strategies develop e-government strategies as a tool to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within government and to make public processes (such as accounting and procurement) more transparent".


- 201 -

Policy guidelines on e-governance at local, regional and national levels should be developed by 2005. They should focus on:• the necessary partnerships between the different levels of public administration and how to collaborate more

effectively across agencies to address complex, shared problems• how to build relationships with private sector partners• how to enhance customer focus• increased public participation in decision-making with the help of ICT• e-enabled access to publicly held information, social services and justice• the development of comprehensive cultural strategies and sustainable spatial planning policies for the information

society.

37. E-Business: Enterprises, particularly SMEs, can use ICTs to foster innovation, realize gains in productivity, fight against poverty, reduce transaction costs and benefit from network externalities: • Through the adoption of an

enabling environment and based on a widely-available broadband infrastructure, Governments should seek to stimulate private investment, new applications and content development and foster public - private partnerships.

Brazil: "...• Through the adoption of an enabling environment and based on a widely-available INTERNET ACCESS AND

broadband infrastructure, Governments should seek to stimulate private investment, new applications and content development and foster public - private partnerships.

• ...• Use of digital technologies can enhance the role of enterprises in promoting entrepreneurship, liberalizing trade, the

accumulation of knowledge…"Canada:• E-culture. ICT networks can provide cultural and national institutions with the means to extend public access to their

cultural heritage.• Appropriate measures to protect against unfair use of Traditional Knowledge should be identified.Japan: "Enterprises, particularly SMEs, can use ICTs to foster innovation, realize gains in productivity, fight against poverty, reduce transaction costs and benefit from network externalities. It is important to cooperate with or support the existing forum such as GBDs, in promoting e-commerce "

• Governments should adopt a twofold approach: setting the rules and using e-Business in their interaction with the business community.

Mexico: E-Business: Enterprises, particularly SMEs, can use ICTs to foster innovation, realize gains in productivity, fight against poverty, reduce transaction costs and benefit from network externalities: • Through the adoption of an enabling environment and based on a widely-available broadband infrastructure,

Governments should seek to stimulate private investment, new applications and content development and foster public - private partnerships.


- 202 -

• ICTs can be used to bring consumer benefits and satisfaction by widening the choice of potential suppliers, beyond the constraints of location. The private sector should help to raise awareness and to ensure training on the specific issues related to e-Business.

• Use of digital technologies can enhance the role of enterprises in promoting entrepreneurship, liberalizing trade, the accumulation of knowledge, the upgrading of skills, thereby increasing productivity, incomes and jobs and promoting qualitative improvement of working life.

• Governments should adopt a twofold approach: setting the rules and using e-Business in their interaction with the business community.

• ICTs can be used to bring consumer benefits and satisfaction by widening the choice of potential suppliers, beyond the constraints of location. The private sector should help to raise awareness and to ensure training on the specific issues related to e-Business.

• Use of digital technologies can enhance the role of enterprises in promoting entrepreneurship, liberalizing trade, the accumulation of knowledge, the upgrading of skills, thereby increasing productivity, incomes and jobs and promoting qualitative improvement of working life and generating income and decent work.

Switzerland: Add new bullet point:"International organizations, supported by both the public and the private sector, should promote the benefits of international trade and the use of e-business. Education and understanding of the use of such trade to increase growth and wealth are key. International organizations and regional trade bodies should press countries to adopt liberalized tariff and quota policies and equitable and efficient treatment of goods and services imported and exported. Governments in developing countries should be encouraged to undertake basic policy reforms and should understand how liberalization of their processes and policies assist e-business to flourish both internationally and domestically.Brazil: "E-BUSINESS AND E-COMMERCE CAN LARGELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MICRO-ENTERPRISES AND SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMEs), WHICH HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT SOCIAL FUNCTION IN JOB CREATION, SPECIALLY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. GOVERNMENTS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY, MUST ENABLE SMEs TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY E-COMMERCE AND E-BUSINESS."

38. E-learning: Access to education and knowledge is essential for economic, social and cultural development, and as a means of personal empowerment, community development and business efficiency. Without neglecting traditional literacy, ICT networks have the potential to offer new educational opportunities to all groups in all areas, and a wider delivery of education:

Argentina: E-learning is a way of providing new skills and competencies through a revolutionary interactive medium in which, rather than people being taken to education, education is brought to people and knowledge focuses on regional issues rather than people focusing on knowledge which is alien their context and irrelevant. Not only is it a new way of bringing people to education with its consequent democratization, but also, and more importantly, it carries with it a message the sustained implementation of which narrows the digital divide, helping to contain it and making our peoples more competitive.We can build sustained knowledge only through education that is germane to local issues and by building learning communities that are adopted by their constituents. In other words, the key lies in ensuring that content is relevant to the learner’s everyday world.The governments of all nations must provide impetus for and facilitate relations between the public sector and the private sector.Short-, medium- and long-term policies should be established and agreed with all sectors, allowing the necessary conditions for the development, evolution and promotion of ITCs to be created.


- 203 -

• E-Learning should contribute to achieving universal primary education worldwide through better delivery of education and better training of teachers, and to offer improved conditions for lifelong learning, encompassing people that are outside the "normal" education process, and for improving professional skills.

• Implementation of affordable and universal educational programmes, content, broadband networks and hardware should be promoted.

E-learning being a medium for communication, we must be mindful that its outcomes are both the essence and the purpose of sustained knowledge. We cannot let it be imparted by a few countries and power systems that are alien to those directly involved, making the learners mere users rather than providing them with the skills to create and innovate. Such an approach will only widen the digital divide and will place the Latin American nations at a competitive disadvantage.Policies in thus area must pursue the globalization of knowledge while not losing sight of the need for knowledge to be singular: in other words it must stem from local and regional cultures, in order to strengthen them and enable them to grow ever closer to similar cultures elsewhere in the world. This in turn will allow the creation of communities in which experiences, projects and initiatives can be shared, and will without doubt afford a sustainable means of creating social, economic and political value.In order to ensure the success of these undertakings, it must be borne in mind that the following constitute the pillars essential to their consolidation:

• adequate technological infrastructure: connectivity, access to technological equipment, inputs, etc.• the development of content, services and software that are relevant to the user communities and the skills to be

imparted• the training of those responsible for training the communities in the use of the new technologies.

• The introduction and development of ICTs in various schools and other learning institutions shall be supported through the establishment and maintenance of a human resources network that institutionalizes the ongoing training of teachers and instructors, who are the backbone of innovation.

• Advantage shall be taken of best practices to create high-quality, readily accessible teaching material from all over the world to facilitate

The building of these pillars will allow the emergence of social, economic and political undertakings that are self- regenerating and create the conditions for better employment, enhanced quality of life, continuous education and the development of regional economies with a global perspective.Investment in and the development of research and development in both the public and the private sectors must not be abandoned. Research and development must be conducted in a manner that is coordinated, sustained and self-regenerating, creating a virtuous circle in which scalable undertakings can be established, and consolidating leading case models which, once tried and tested, can be implemented on a larger scale with a high degree of certainty.This is the type of initiative that international credit agencies should support and promote in order to back up local projects and integrate them in international contexts.The attainment of these objectives should lead to a narrowing of the digital divide and allow more individuals and communities to have access to the knowledge economy, thus enhancing their quality of lifeBrazil: "...• Implementation of affordable and universal educational programmes, content, REGULAR AND broadband

ACCESS networks and hardware should be promoted." Canada: "... ICT networks have the potential to offer new educational opportunities to all groups in all areas, and a wider delivery of education especially to those sectors of the population who have less access to education"


- 204 -

knowledge transfer to the national level.

• Special attention shall be devoted to multilingual training and to the use and development of translation software.

• E-Learning should contribute to achieving universal primary education worldwide through better delivery of education and better training of teachers, and to offer improved conditions for lifelong learning, encompassing people that are outside the "normal" education process, and for improving professional skills. Due to their lower rates of enrolment and higher rates of attrition, women and girls should be targeted for e-learning.


• The introduction and development of ICTs in various schools and other learning institutions shall should be supported through the establishment and maintenance of a human resources network that institutionalizes the ongoing training of teachers and instructors, who are the backbone of innovation.

• Advantage shall should be taken of best practices to create high-quality, gender-sensitive and readily accessible teaching material from all over the world to facilitate knowledge transfer to the national level.

• Special attention shall should be devoted to multilingual training and to the use and development of language software, including translation software.

• In small, remote communities, ICTs could ensure that youth have access to comprehensive and varied training programmes, which would enable local teaching establishments to be maintained in spite of the small number of students.

Japan: "The introduction and development of ICTs in various schools and other learning institutions shall be supported through the establishment utilization and maintenance of ...".Mexico: E-learning: Access to education and knowledge is essential for economic, social and cultural development, and as a means of personal empowerment, community development and business efficiency. Without neglecting traditional literacy, ICT networks have the potential to offer new educational opportunities to all groups in all areas, and a wider delivery of education: • E-Learning should contribute to achieving universal primary education worldwide through better delivery of

education and better training of teachers, and to offer improved conditions for lifelong learning, encompassing people that are outside the “normal” education process, and for improving professional skills.


• The introduction and development of ICTs in various schools and other learning institutions shall be supported through the establishment and maintenance of a human resources network that institutionalizes the ongoing training of teachers and instructors, who are the backbone of innovation.

• Advantage shall be taken of best practices to create high-quality teaching material, readily accessible teaching material from all over the world in order to facilitate knowledge transfer to the national level.


- 205 -

• Special attention shall be devoted to multilingual training and to the use and development of translation software.Tunisia: Change "business efficiency" to "effectiveness of economic activity".• Change "delivery of education..." to delivery of training".• Software should be included among mechanisms enumerated in second subparagraph.

38A Brazil: Add [38A] PARTICULAR ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN AND THE MEANS OF IMPROVING THEIR PERSPECTIVES FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY ENHANCED OR SUPPORTED EDUCATION, ADAPTATION OF CURRICULA TO THE CHANGING REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB MARKET AND SKILLS PROGRAMMES FOR DIGITAL LITERACY AND TECHNICAL CAPACITATION.

38B Brazil: Add [38B] ACTIONS SHOULD AIM AT PROMOTING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE VIA HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, INCLUDING DISTANCE LEARNING FOR UNDER-SERVED AREAS, NON-FORMAL EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING ADAPTED TO THE SPECIFICITIES OF EACH REGION. SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR CITIZENS IN ACTIVE USE OF ICTS, FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF BROADER DIGITAL LITERACY AND THE CREATION OF A CULTURE OF LIFE-LONG LEARNING IN ICT DEPLOYMENT ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVES.

38C Brazil: Add [38C] CLEAR STRATEGIES MUST BE DEVELOPED IN ALL COUNTRIES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT DIFFERENT REGIONAL STRUCTURES, WITH THE AIM OF ENSURING THAT ALL CITIZENS HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO LIVE, WORK, AND DEVELOP THEIR POTENTIAL IN THE NEW KNOWLEDGE-BASED SOCIETY, WHILE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE USE OF ICTS AND, IN PARTICULAR, INTERNET ACCESS ARE NOT LUXURIES OR A MORE EFFECTIVE PATH TO CONSUMPTION, BUT TOOLS AND VEHICLES FOR INCREASING ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, WELFARE AND CITIZENSHIP.

38D Brazil: Add [38D] ICTS CAN ACCELERATE THE EDUCATION OF MARGINALIZED POPULATION GROUPS AND THOSE LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY, WITH THE SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, NGO'S AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, STIMULATING THE CREATION OF LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES.

39. E-health: Access to healthcare information and services is a basic right. Many countries lack adequate healthcare facilities and

Canada: "Access to healthcare information and services is a basic right essential.• ICTs should be used to promote social inclusion of all members of society by enabling equitable access to healthcare

services, especially for women who are primary health care providers for their families, as well as empowering citizens to better manage their own health and to participate more effectively in the healthcare process.


- 206 -

personnel, particularly in rural and remote areas. ICTs should be incorporated on a mass scale in the field of health care with a view to improving resource use, patient satisfaction, personalized care, and the coordination of public health-care systems, private institutions and the academic sector:

• Innovative solutions and options must should be devised for providing health services to under-served areas.• Another e-health priority shall should be the prevention, treatment, and monitor and control of the spread of

dangerous and contagious diseases - specifically HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria - in particular, through the creation of a common information system which includes the specific needs of women.

• ICTs should be used for the preparation and dissemination of accessible information that strengthens prevention programmes and promotes wome n' s and men ' s health …"

Japan: "… ICTs should be incorporated on a mass scale in the field of health care and hygiene with a view to improving …"• Another e-health priority shall be the prevention, treatment and monitor and control of the spread of dangerous and

contagious infectious diseases - specifically HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria - in particular, through the creation of a common information system.

• ICTs should be used to promote social inclusion of all members of society by enabling equitable access to healthcare services, as well as empowering citizens to better manage their own health and to participate more effectively in the healthcare process.

• Innovative solutions and options must be devised for providing health services to under-served areas.

• Another e-health priority shall be the prevention, treatment and monitor and control of the spread of dangerous and contagious diseases - specifically HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria - in particular, through the creation of a common information system.

Mexico: E-health: Access to healthcare information and services is a basic right. Many countries lack adequate healthcare facilities and personnel, particularly in rural and remote areas. ICTs should be incorporated on a mass scale in the field of health care with a view to improving resource use, patient satisfaction, personalized care, and the coordination of public health-care systems, private institutions and the academic sector: • ICTs should be used to promote social inclusion of all members of society by enabling equitable access to

healthcare, including preventive medicine services, as well as empowering citizens to better manage their own health and to participate more effectively in the healthcare process.

• Innovative solutions and options must be devised for providing health services to under-served areas. • Another e-health priority shall beE-health priorities shall include the prevention, treatment and monitor, monitoring

and control of the spread of dangerous and contagious diseases - specifically HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria - in particular, through the creation of a common information system.

• ICTs can be used to provide e-health supports to specific groups (such as the elderly, the chronically ill and children).

• An ICT-based e-health network should be established to provide medical assistance following humanitarian disaster and emergencies.

• A system should be established to provide e-health services to the populations in remote regions of the globe.• The portability of information that includes electronic clinical files is an unavoidable and urgent objective. All

individuals should have a single electronic clinical record covering their entire lives, from birth to death. To that end, the governments of countries signatories to the Summit shall undertake to adapt their legislation and standards with a view to making the electronic clinical file valid in law. They shall also undertake to pursue the adoption of a global technical standard for the exchange of data between the information systems of all public and private health


- 207 -

• ICTs can be used to provide e-health supports to specific groups (such as the elderly, the chronically ill and children).

• An ICT-based e-health network should be established to provide medical assistance following humanitarian disaster and emergencies.

institutions.New Zealand: New Zealand questions whether the reference to "incorporation of ICTs on a mass scale" in respect of promoting e-health (Article 39 of the action plan) is appropriate to all developing countries' ICT needs. There is considerable debate for example amongst donors and stakeholders in the Pacific about the scale of ICTs required. A number of donors are currently undertaking needs assessments/IT capability assessments in the Pacific. Indications to date from the experts are that small scale is more appropriate to the Pacific context.Russian Federation: "... A system should be established to provide e-health services to the populations in remote and inaccessible regions of the globe".

• A system should be established to provide e-health services to the populations in remote regions of the globe.

USA: E-health services may serve to facilitate access to health care information and services. We note that Article 25 of the UDHR states "everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including … medical care….". We support the freedom of everyone to seek healthcare services and information. However, the United States disagrees with the statement that "access to healthcare information and services is a basic right," which goes beyond rights established under existing human rights treaties.

39A Brazil: Add [39A] ICTS CAN MAKE SOUND SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO HEALTH WORKERS. TELEHEALTH CAN CONNECT REMOTE POPULATIONS AND UNDER-SERVED GROUPS TO BETTER SERVICES, THEREBY COMPLEMENTING TRADITIONAL FORMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE.

39B Brazil: Add [39B] HEALTH SERVICES IN MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE CONCENTRATED IN URBAN AREAS, BEING FAR AND FEWER IN RURAL, REMOTE OR POOR REGIONS. THIS REPRESENTS A PROFOUND IMBALANCE BETWEEN URBAN-RURAL AND RICH-POOR AREAS IN TERMS OF AVAILABILITY, QUALITY, DENSITY OF SPECIALISTS, FACILITIES AND MORE ADVANCED TREATMENTS .

39C Brazil: Add [39C] TECHNOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE SUPPORTS SERVICES, AT AFFORDABLE COSTS, WHICH HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE, DECENTRALIZING AND EXPANDING THEIR COVERAGE TO POPULATIONS THAT PREVIOUSLY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEM BECAUSE THEY LIVED IN REMOTE AREAS, WHERE MEDICAL STAFF AND FACILITIES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

39D Brazil: Add [39D] IT SHOULD BE PROMOTED GREATER ACCESS TO INFORMATION NETWORKS FOR GOVERNMENTS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND INSTITUTIONS, INDUSTRY AND CIVIL SOCIETY,


- 208 -

THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION INITIATIVES AND THE CREATION OF SPECIFIC FUNDS .

40. E-employment: ICTs can provide tools for new job creation and enhance competitiveness and productivity through teleworking, enterprise networking and efficient linking of job seekers and employers. Best practices and new labour laws for e-workers and e-employers should be developed at the international level. The role of the ILO is fundamental in this respect. Telecommuting should be promoted to allow the best brains of the developing world to live in their societies and work anywhere.

Canada: "… Best practices and new labour laws for e-workers and e-employers built on principles of social justice and gender equality should be developed at the international level. The role of the ILO is fundamental in this respect. Telecommuting should be promoted to allow the best brains of the developing world to live in their societies and work anywhere. Opportunities to increase women's employment through telework and telecommuting should be supported."Mexico: E-employment: ICTs can provide tools for new job creation and enhance competitiveness and productivity through teleworking, enterprise networking and efficient linking of job seekers and employers. Best practices and new labour laws for e-workers and e-employers should be developed at the international level. The role of the ILO is fundamental in this respect. Telecommuting should be promoted to allow the best brains of the developing world to live in their societies and work anywhere.

40A Australia: Add [40A] Observers contributions: Australia would support the inclusion of the following sentence: "Safe and healthy, secure and fair working conditions, built on principles of social justice and gender equality, to be enjoyed by all workers in the Information Society".

Brazil: Add [40A] ICTS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH AND BOOST JOB CREATION. ICTS PROMOTE CORPORATE INNOVATION AND MODERNIZATION, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES, PROVIDING ACCESS TO NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEREBY FACILITATING THE CREATION OF NEW AND BETTER EMPLOYMENT.

Brazil: Add [40B] THE PORTION OF A COUNTRY'S POPULATION WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE ECONOMICALLY-ACTIVE AND, IN PARTICULAR, THAT PART OF THE POPULATION WHOSE ACCESS TO THE LABOR MARKET IS RESTRICTED OWING TO UNEMPLOYMENT, UNDEREMPLOYMENT, AGE, HEALTH, OR SOCIAL STATUS CAN GREATLY BENEFIT FROM THE POTENTIAL OF ICTS. YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IS OF SPECIAL RELEVANCE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DUE TO NATURE OF THEIR POPULATION DYNAMICS.


- 209 -

Brazil: Add [40C] ICTS-LED TRANSFORMATIONS, HOWEVER, MAY CAUSE THE SUPPRESSION OF MANY EMPLOYMENT POSTS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH TRADITIONAL MEANS OF MANAGING INFORMATION. PROVIDING UNEMPLOYED WORKERS WITH THE NECESSARY EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC MEANS TOWARDS THEIR INTEGRATION INTO THE INFORMATION SOCIETY IS A TASK TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY GOVERNMENTS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS .

Brazil: Add [40D] ICTS IMPLY RESTRUCTURING AND REENGINEERING OF ENTERPRISES, MODIFYING THE CONCEPT OF EMPLOYMENT BY FACILITATING AND STREAMLINING THE INTERFACE BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, OR BETWEEN THOSE SEEKING AND THOSE OFFERING PERSONAL SERVICES. COUNTRIES, IN PARTICULAR DEVELOPING ONES, NEED TO MODERNIZE THEIR LEGAL, REGULATORY AND POLICY ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY, WHILE PRESERVING FUNDAMENTAL LABOUR RIGHTS AND GUARANTEES.

41. E-environment: Systems should be established to prevent man-made disasters, using ICTs to monitor the operators of production and transport systems that pose the gravest potential threats to the environment.

Japan: "Systems should be established to prevent man-made disasters, using ICTs to monitor the operators of production the environmental impact caused by production and transport…" Mexico: E-environment: Systems should be established to prevent man-made disasters, using ICTs to monitor the operators of production and transport systems that pose the gravest potential threats to the environment.Russian Federation: "... threats to the environment, as well as to forecast natural disasters ".

41A Mexico: Mexico proposes introducing the following sentence in Section I: "There is a need to prioritize and develop the uses of ICTs, for development in agriculture and early warning systems, for example."

41B Switzerland: Add new paragraph 41 B41b. Environmental monitoring resulting from data collection and data analysis should be promoted to allow

governments, the business sector and civil society to face the state of their own [local] environment and undertake actions - based on information - to prevent further environmental degradations. To be efficient, this has to be done on a regular basis and has to be accessible to all stakeholders i.e. governments, the business sector and civil society.

41C Switzerland: Add new paragraph 41 CEnvironmental data dissemination: The use of ICTs in a sustainable environmental protection strategy encompasses environmental data finding, environmental data analysis and environmental monitoring.Environmental data finding, analysis and monitoring provide the world community with improved access to meaningful


- 210 -

data and information, and help increase the capacity of governments to use environmental information for decision-making and action planning for sustainable human development. Relevant international institutions should thus develop a strategy for the use of ICTs for sustainable development and as an effective instrument to help achieve the MDGs. The strategy should be ready by 2005.Governments and the private sector should develop different instruments that can help to extract the maximum environmental benefits from ICTs and speed the development of sustainability solutions throughout society. These instruments should be ready for implementation by 2005.

41D Switzerland: Add new paragraph 41 D" Sustainable consumption and production patterns: ICTs have to play a role in reducing environmental impacts and have to be employed to overcome unsustainable consumption and productions patterns. This has to be done by means of dematerialization and thus reducing the use of natural resources and waste, elimination of unnecessary standby losses of ICT equipment and ICT systems as well as an improved lifecycle."

8) Cultural identity and linguistic diversity, local content and media development

Mexico: Cultural identity and linguistic diversity, local content and media development

42. Cultural and linguistic diversity. Linguistic and cultural diversity enriches the development of society by giving expression to a range of different values and ideas. For this purpose: • Information should be

presented in the language and cultural context most familiar to the user, thereby further encouraging the use of ICTs.

• To foster mutual understanding, diversity of cultural expression should be preserved and promoted,

Brazil: Add bullet:• TOOLS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED TO EVALUATE THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF ICTS AND CONTRIBUTE

TO THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY. THIS SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE POOR THEMSELVES, BOTH IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN COUNTRIES.

Canada:• Information and applications should be presented in the language and cultural context most familiar to the user,

thereby further encouraging the use of ICTs.…• Technologies should be adapted to suit different cultures . Mexico: Cultural and linguistic diversity. Linguistic and cultural diversity enriches the development of society by giving expression to a range of different values and ideas. For this purposeAccordingly: • Information should be presented clearly and precisely in the language and cultural context most familiar to the user,

thereby further encouraging the use of ICTs.• To foster mutual understanding, diversity of cultural expression should be preserved and promoted, through the


- 211 -

through the creation of varied information content and the digitization of the educational, scientific and cultural heritage.

creation of varied information content and the digitization of the educational, scientific and cultural heritage.• All people should have access to services provided via sound and television broadcasting stations the content of

which meets their need for broadcasts that are relevant to their own cultures and languages, in accordance with the law of each country.

• ICTs should be used to help preserve diversity and indigenous knowledge and traditions.

• Means should be developed for enabling access to information resources in different languages, in particular online translation tools.

• Means should be developed for processing information in local languages: for instance, standard character sets and language codes, dictionaries, general and application software.

• Non-written languages should be preserved by using audio support.

• ICTs should be used to help preserve ethnic and cultural diversity and traditional knowledgediversity and indigenous knowledge and traditions.

• Means should be found to allow access to information resources in different languages, particularly online translation tools.

• Means should be developed for enabling access to information resources in different languages, in particular online translation tools.

• Means should be developed for processing information in local languages: for instance, standard character sets and language codes, dictionaries, general and application software.

• Non-written languages should be preserved by using audio support.Switzerland: Add the following bullet points:• " Governments should create cultural policies with a legal framework and where necessary financial support for the

protection, promotion and enhancement of cultural diversity and cultural heritage within information society. • Governments should promote technologies available in the areas of translation, iconographies and voice-assisted

services in order to permit all different cultures to mix with each other in the information societies and in this way to develop their own identity without being forced to abandon it.

• Governments should safeguard the cultural heritage as a common trust, and keep it accessible as a living part of today's culture. Standards for its preservation, enhancement, and exploitation, making full use of the potential of ICT, should be developed by 2005.

• Governments should promote better, wider and more equitable use of ICT at all levels of lifelong learning, and develop policies to support the use of digital material for educational and other social purposes."

43. Content: Creation of local content should be supported: • Public policy should foster the

creation of varied information content, which helps to preserve and disseminate local

Brazil: "Public policy should foster the creation of varied information content, which helps to preserve and disseminate local and national culture, language and heritage, and to safeguard family and community cohesion."Canada:• "Developing countries must should have the capacity for developing hardware and software, as well as content that

is relevant to different segments of population.…


- 212 -

and national culture, language and heritage, and to safeguard family and community cohesion.

• Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural institutions should be supported as content providers, distributors and stores.

• Content should be made available in forms accessible to the non-literate."

• Production and exchange of appropriate local content available in a user's mother tongue is of vital importance.

• Developing countries must have the capacity for developing hardware and software, as well as content that is relevant to different segments of population.

• Content referencing, based on public-private partnership to make web content more accessible, should be encouraged.

• Local authorities have an important role to play, because for citizens they represent the first level of contact with the administrations and they could also foster the development of local communities: local content development, digital archives, diverse forms of digital media, content translation and adaptation should be supported.

• Literacy software should be produced in local languages.

Japan: "Public-private policy should foster the creation of varied information content, which helps to…"

Mexico: Content: Creation of local content should be supported through: • Public policy should to foster the creation of varied information content, which helps to preserve and disseminate

local and national culture, language and heritage, and to safeguard family and community cohesion and the cohesion of national as well as the local community.

• Local creativity, mainly through the promotion of local content that responds to local needs and particularities.• Production and exchange of appropriate local content available in a user’s mother tongue, which is of vital

importance.• Developing countries must have the capacity for developingThe creation and development of hardware and

software, as well asand of content that is relevant to different segments of population.• ContentThe promotion of content referencing, based on public-private partnership to make web content more

accessible, should be encouraged.• Local authorities have an important role to play, because for citizens they represent the first level of contact with the

administrations and they could also foster the development of local communities: The development of local content development, digital archives, diverse forms of digital media, and content translation and adaptation should be supportedthrough local authorities, which have an important role to play as citizens' first level of contact with the administration.

• Literacy software should be produced in local languages.• The preservation of archivesArchives should be preserved as the memory of humankind, and the development of

systems should be developed to ensure continued access to archived digital information and multimedia content.• LibrariesSupport for libraries and archives should be supported as traditional knowledge content providers.Russian Federation: "Developing countries and countries whose economy is in transition, must have the capacity for developing hardware and software, as well as content that is relevant to different segments of population"Tanzania: Add new bullet point "Recognition and support will be given to media based in local communities, thus contributing to creation of local content, preserving and developing cultural and linguistic diversity."


- 213 -

• Archives should be preserved as the memory of humankind, and systems should be developed to ensure continued access to archived digital information and multimedia content.

• Libraries and archives should be supported as content providers.

43A Brazil: Add [43A] INCENTIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONTENT CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PROMOTE, DIFFUSE AND PROTECT CULTURAL IDENTITIES.

44. Media: ICT and media as a whole should stimulate linguistic and cultural diversity, including through the facilitation of exchange of local content:• Investment should be made in

regional media content as well as new technologies.

• Independent production and pluralistic media should be supported.

• Appropriate multilateral television networks should be promoted.

Canada:• "Investment should be made in regional and community-based media content as well as new technologies"Cuba: Add new bullet point:• "Legal and administrative measures should be taken to prohibit undue concentration of private ownership and

control of media"Mexico: Media: ICT and media as a whole should stimulate linguistic and cultural diversity, including through the facilitation of exchange of local content:• Investment should be made in local and regional media content as well as new technologies. • Independent production and pluralistic media should be supported in a manner consistent with the law of each

country. • Appropriate multilateral television networks should be promoted.Switzerland: Add six bullet points to paragraph 44:" • Infrastructure: The governments shall support a generous allocation of frequencies for local radio stations at

reasonable prices. Here a transmitter network concept should be used which takes into account the federal, pluralist, democratic and cultural requirements of the country.

• Institutional framework: governments should preserve or develop legislation which guarantees the independence and plurality of the media and to transform the State media (radio, TV and other) into public services which enjoy editorial independence.


- 214 -

Governments should take legal measures limiting the concentration of the media, so as to guarantee diversified, pluralistic information sources.Governments should provide free access on the Internet to information of a public nature. They should establish legislation on access to information and the protection of public data, notably in the area of the new technologies, and publish it on the home page of their website.

• The media should adapt to other more recent forms of content delivery the standards applicable to the broadcast media, including:

– the separation of editorial content and advertising – the protection of minors against illegal and harmful content – the prohibition of certain types of advertising.• Protection of workers: the States take clear measures to ensure that the international standards on working

conditions and the right of workers to organize and be represented are applied in all the media, old and new.• Solidarity: media professionals (employers and employees) commit themselves to establish partnerships with the

media in disadvantaged regions or societies. For example: – establishing twinning relationships between editorial staff – developing exchanges of personnel, – encouraging the development of citizens' associations of listeners/viewers/surfers for conducting a critical

dialogue with their media. – supporting, the professional training of journalists, in the form of courses and seminars, in using ICT and in

adapting their role to a changed environment with increased competition from non-professional information providers.

9) Identifying and overcoming barriers to the achievement of the Information Society with a human perspective

Mexico: Identifying and overcoming barriers to the achievement of the Information Society with a human perspective

El Salvador: Add [44A]: Careful planning and execution as well as a dynamic follow-up with the involvement of all actors should be able to identify and to overcome barriers as they arise towards the achievement of the information society.Mali: Add 44B: "Identifying, at national and international levels, the main obstacles to the building of the Information Society."


- 215 -

B. Objectives

45. Examples of possible concrete and comprehensive actions could include:

Czech Rep.: The objectives of the "Action Plan" should be realistic and its deadlines attainable. Article 45 of the "Draft Action Plan" does not meet this requirement.Mali-Bamako 2000: It was established that developing countries in general and those on the continent in particular need and are counting on ICT programmes and/or pilot projects that are practical and of great value, to enable our populations to cope with their everyday tasks and problems.Our countries need regional, subregional and national ICT programmes and/or pilot projects in various sectors, such as education, health, connectivity, governance, hygiene, SMEs/SMIs, commerce, agriculture, environment, all of which should be implemented and completed within two to five years.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes identifying United Nations bodies to help with the implementation of these programmes and pilot projects in our five subregions.Regional and subregional entities may also be identified and included in the preparation, start up and implementation of such programmes and/or pilot projects.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes creating a digital solidarity fund, as suggested by President Abdoulaye Wade, to finance these programmes and/or pilot projects.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes that local and regional banks should be included in the mobilization of financing for national, regional and subregional ICT programmes and/or projects.Programmes and/or projects on infrastructure may be negotiated and developed at national, regional and subregional levels in order to minimize costs. The Bamako 2000 Bureau reaffirms that these ICT programmes and/or pilot projects should include all players, namely the public sector, the private sector and civil society.The mechanisms and criteria for selecting the proposals for the various ICT programmes and projects (national, subregional and regional) must be defined on a transparent and equitable basis.The fund access mechanisms for these initiatives must likewise be defined on a transparent, equitable and democratic basis.The digital solidarity fund must be managed by a committee the membership of which is composed as follows: 50% from developing countries and 50% from industrialized countries. Its secretariat shall be composed in the same way.The ICT programmes and/or pilot projects must have:• clear selection criteria• clear and realistic objectives


- 216 -

• clearly defined periods for design, preparation, implementation and evaluation• clear and measurable indicators, in order to facilitate their subsequent evaluation and measure their real impact• clear assignment of responsibilities to the staff entrusted with their implementation.

The management committee of the digital solidarity fund must be accountable to the WSIS PrepCom secretariat.

Audits and other evaluations of the digital solidarity fund must be scheduled.Mexico: Examples of possible concrete and comprehensive actions could include:

New Zealand: New Zealand is not comfortable with references in the draft action plan which have implications for the delivery of overseas development assistance. Particular concerns include proposals for benchmarks, a global digital compact, a digital solidarity fund, country-level indicators, performance monitoring and reporting. In general it should be left to developing countries in partnership with donor countries to establish their own priorities for development according to their individual situations and needs. We would further note that proposals involving onerous reporting or performance monitoring obligations are likely to be unacceptable to developing countries.Tunisia: Develop "examples" into ambitious objectives to be further pursued and agreed upon.• Change "success stories" to "success models".• Change heading "C. Strategies programmes, methods for implementation" to "C. Strategies, programmes and

methods for implementation".• Add a new point: Adoption of a global initiative to recycle second-hand computers by replacing some of their

components with more modern parts, and resell them for modest prices.

a) Benchmarks: The following could serve as benchmarks for actions to be taken: • all villages to be connected by

2010, with a community access point by 2015;

• all universities to be connected by 2005, all secondary schools by 2010 and all primary schools by 2015;

• all hospitals to be connected by 2005 and health centres by 2010;

Australia: Australia believes that communities could set their own targets and benchmarks, appropriate to their current stage of development and capacity rather than imposing a global set of benchmarks. Brazil: Add:ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS: • INTERNATIONAL EFFORT IN MAKING AVAILABLE ADEQUATE INTERNET COMMUNITY ACCESS

EQUIPMENT UNDER US$ 100 BY 2010, AND UNDER US$ 50 BY 2015.• INTERNATIONAL EFFORT IN MAKING AVAILABLE ADEQUATE AND VERY ECONOMICAL

INFRASTRUCTURE – WIRED OR WIRELESS (INCLUDING CELL PHONES) – TO PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF LARGE PARTS OF COUNTRIES POPULATION


- 217 -

• 90 per cent of the world's population to be within wireless coverage by 2010 and 100 per cent by 2015;

• all central governments departments to have a website and email address by 2005 and all local governments departments by 2010.

Canada:Not realistic: These objectives detract from the credibility of the whole, e.g. all hospitals, all universities by 2005?• Increase the proportion of Internet content available in more than one language; • Increase the number of languages used in association with the new information technologies. Japan: The target years should be realistic. Therefore, achievability of these benchmarks should be examined before detailed discussion.Mali: Add: "• Devise, for all interested countries, appropriate universal access policies and strategies within two (2) years.• Organize, by 2005 at the latest, a donors’ roundtable for the purpose of mobilizing the necessary financial resources

to implement NEPAD's ICT measures.• Provide all interested countries with appropriate technical assistance for the preparation of network development

plans for broadband Internet and IP.• Implement (and evaluate) in LDCs pilot projects on e-services/applications and IP within three (3) years.• Establish an international fund to finance the initiation, study and implementation of ICT projects in rural areas,

particularly in the LDCs, within (3) years.• Provide, for a period of three years, technical and financial assistance for the promotion and consolidation of

subregional centres of excellence and Internet training centres that can become focal points for ICT research and development.

• Establish, particularly in the LDCs, multipurpose access points in order to provide a wide range of e-services/applications in rural areas.

• Establish within one (1) year pluridisciplinary national committees to be responsible for devising strategies for the achievement of the Information Society and for supervising their implementation.

• Support countries, particularly developing countries, in drawing up their e-strategies, providing guidance and producing guidelines to that end.

• Introduce tax and customs incentives for the provision of ICT equipment to schools, health centres and local communities.

• Establish, under the aegis of ITU, a mechanism for the coordination of measures and activities carried out by international bodies in order to facilitate the promotion and development of the Information Society.


- 218 -

• Establish a mechanism for the recovery of computers and/or support existing mechanisms with a view to equipping schools, health centres and local communities.

• Devise and implement a mechanism to support the development of voice and touch applications allowing the advantages of ICTs to be extended to a large part of the population in developing countries.

• Prepare, by the end of 2005, a reference plan and guidelines on securing information and/or networks.• Initiate and implement within three (3) years a technical assistance programme for developing countries enabling

them to devise and implement security policies and strategies.• Produce a yearly inventory of the best technologies for access to remote and rural areas in order to optimize ICT

access costs.• Set up within three (3) years distance training centres in the LDCs.• Provide significant support and backing for the implementation of the African Language Academy’s ICT

programme.

Mexico: a) Benchmarks: The following could serve as benchmarks for actions to be taken:• all villages to be connected by 2010, with a community access point by 2015;• all universities to be connected by 2005, all secondary schools by 2010 and all primary schools by 2015;• all hospitals to be connected by 2005 and health centres by 2010;• 90 per cent of the world’s population to be within wireless coverage by 2010 and 100 per cent by 2015;• all central governments departments to have a website and email address by 2005 and all local governments

departments by 2010.New Zealand: Benchmarks (article 45(a) of the action plan): New Zealand questions the value of introducing specific development-oriented targets in the WSIS context. The Millennium Declaration Goals include a substantial ICT element. As the Millennium Declaration is already a basic reference point in the WSIS draft texts, it is unnecessary to include additional development targets in the WSIS context. As a general rule, New Zealand is also wary of introducing new time-bound targets when the international community has not been able to meet existing targets. We question whether there has been any realistic analysis as to whether the goals are achievable within the given time-frames. We question the applicability or relevance of some of the targets to, for instance, small Pacific island countries. Even if they had the capacity, these administrations would likely not assign priority to ensuring website and email capability for local and central governments when basic infrastructure or other development needs have still to be met.

Switzerland: Add:


- 219 -

"Governments should aim to make sure that all information available to citizens in electronic form is available in data formats according to open, flexible and interoperable international standards by 2005.• Governments should encourage research on the advantages and disadvantages of open source software, in particular

on its use by government agencies. Results of this research should be made available by 2005.• To guarantee transparency and access to information, governments should develop strategies for their information

and records management on national and local levels by 2005.• Internationally harmonized concepts, definitions and standard indicators that would guide measurements for

international comparability should be developed by 2005.Governments should encourage further research on:• the significance of the ICT sector and the macro impacts of ICTs on aggregate measures, particularly on productivity • the access to, and the actual use of, ICTs in order to obtain a clearer picture of the digital divide. • Results of this research should be made available by 2005. • WSIS should adopt guidelines that will assist in the development of internationally compatible statistical

measurementSocial cohesion: In order to overcome the obstacles, which are often created by new technologies, and to ensure the inclusion of vulnerable groups in the Information Society, Governments should envisage the following actions:• to support over the next ten years research and development programmes which promote the production and

distribution of assistive technology (software, hardware and working methods) and help people with disabilities to access ICT and make the best use of it.

• all Internet websites to be accessible for the blind and visually impaired through appropriate standards for page design and through audio description of graphic elements by 2005.

• national governing/regulation bodies for telecommunication and information technology to have a top-level delegate by 2005, assigned to maintain regular contact with the organizations of the disabled, especially with organizations of the deaf and the blind, and to make sure that the special requirements for the disabled are recognized and implemented in national laws and regulations.

• all countries to have a telephone relay service as part of the universal service, which enables live communications around the clock between hearing people and deaf people/ hard of hearing people/people with speech problems. The telephone relay service should in operation for text communication systems not later than 2005, and for video communication systems not later than 2010.

• the television stations take into account the information requirements of deaf and hearing impaired people in that an appropriate proportion of their programmes are subtitled or signed.


- 220 -

• the television stations take into account the information requirements of blind and visually impaired people in that an appropriate proportion of their programmes are supplemented with video description

• By 2005, international organizations should develop their own strategies for the use of ICTs for sustainable development and as an effective instrument to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Tanzania: Setting conducive legal and regulatory framework to promote information society by 2005.• All central government departments to have a website and email address by 2005 and local governments by 2010.

Building awareness of the use of ICTs to all segments of society by 2020.Tunisia: In discussing objectives benchmarks have been highlighted. In order to render these benchmarks more pertinent, account should be taken of the different levels of ICT development in the developing countries themselves. This requires the following:• Benchmarks should be developed for remote areas in the least developed countries.• Plans should be made for:

– Creation of virtual schools and universities in disadvantaged areas.– Creation of virtual health centres in remote areas and going beyond merely interconnecting existing facilities.

b) E-Strategies: Developing national e-strategies for all countries within three years, including the necessary human capacity building.

Brazil: "Developing national e-strategies for all countries within three years, including the necessary human capacity building AND TAKE IN CONSIDERATION THE DIFFERENCES AMONG COUNTRIES"Mexico: E-Strategies: Developing national e-strategies for all countries within three years, including the necessary human capacity building.

c) Global Digital Compact: Launching of a "Global Digital Compact" as a new pattern for partnership and interaction between governments and non-governmental actors, based on division of labour and specialized responsibilities, as well as on identified specific and common interests, to work together to achieve ICT development goals (e.g. governments create

Canada:Canada strongly supports increased partnerships but does not see merit in launching a new major initiative of this nature, given the existing international mechanisms.Mexico: Global Digital Compact: Launching of a “Global Digital Compact” as a new pattern for partnership and interaction between governments and non-governmental actors, based on division of labour and specialized responsibilities, as well as on identified specific and common interests, to work together to achieve ICT development goals (e.g. governments create stimulating regulatory environment and fiscal incentives, businesses bring in technology and madke available simple applications, non-governmental organizations undertake awareness campaigns and work at community level etc.) (a model that could start from the institutional relationships already existing in ITU, with ITU as coordinator).New Zealand: New Zealand does not support the proposed Global Digital Compact (article 45(c) of the action plan).


- 221 -

stimulating regulatory environment and fiscal incentives, business bring in technology and made available simple applications, non-governmental organizations undertake awareness campaigns and work at community level etc.) (a model that could start from the institutional relationships already existing in ITU, with ITU as coordinator).

The United Nations' existing Global Compact is poorly subscribed, and has not proven effective: we are wary of duplicating the exercise in the ICT context. We do not believe that such a Compact would contribute to facilitating public-private partnerships at the national level. Nevertheless, New Zealand would not oppose retaining the reference as long as subscribing to such a Global Compact remained voluntary.

d) Digital development index: Launching and gradually developing an aggregate ICT Development (Digital Opportunity) Index and publish it annually or every two years in an ICT Development Report, where ranking of countries will be accompanied by analytical work on policies and their implementation. (ITU is to catalyze and combine in a coherent structure the existing experiences in various organizations, universities, think-tanks etc.)

Canada: "… ranking of countries will be accompanied by analytical work on policies and their implementation including gender analysis. (ITU is to catalyze and combine in a coherent structure the existing experiences in various organizations, universities, think-tanks etc.)Other international structures are being explored, including a Unesco-Orbicom entity."Mexico: Digital development index: Launching and gradually developing an aggregate ICT Development (Digital Opportunity) Index and publishing it annually or every two years in an ICT Development Report, where ranking of countries will be accompanied by analytical work on policies and their implementation. (ITU is to catalyze and combine in a coherent structure the existing experiences in various organizations, universities, think-tanks etc.)New Zealand: Digital development index (article 45(d) of the action plan). There is a risk of this duplicating existing development indexes. Such indexes usually prove an expensive exercise, and become an administrative burden on small administrations such as Pacific island countries. A better option might be to ensure that digital development was captured as part of the United Nations Human Development Index.

e) Handbook on good practices and success stories: Elaborating and launching a "Handbook on good practices and success stories", as a compilation of contributions from all

Mexico: Handbook on good practices and success stories: Elaborating and launching a “Handbook on good practices and success stories”, as a compilation of contributions from all stakeholders, in a concise and convincing format, which is to be re-issued periodically and turned into a permanent experience-sharing exercise.


- 222 -

stakeholders, in a concise and convincing format, which is to be re-issued periodically and turned into a permanent experience-sharing exercise.

f) Training content workers: Equipping and training content workers in the LDCs, such as archivists, librarians, scientists, teachers and journalists in making use of the expertise and operational capacity of the relevant international professional organizations.

Japan: "…equipping and training content workers in the LDCs, such as archivists, librarians…"Mexico: Training content workersContent of worker training: Equipping and training contentEquipment and content of training workers in the LDCs, such as archivists, librarians, scientists, teachers and journalists in making use of the expertise and operational capacity of the relevant international professional organizations.

g) Curriculum revision: Revising the curricula of the primary and secondary schools in all countries, within three years, in order to meet the challenges of the Information Society.

Mexico: Curriculum revision: Revising the curricula of the primary and secondary schools in all countries, within three years, in order to meet the challenges of the Information Society.

h) World languages on the Internet: Create the necessary technical (software and hardware) conditions, which would permit all languages in the world to be present and used on the Internet.

Mexico: World languages on the Internet: Create the necessary technical (software and hardware) conditions, which would permit all languages in the world to be present and used on the Internet.

C. Strategies programmes, methods for implementation

Mexico: Strategies programmes, methods for implementation

46. Governments, the private sector, civil society, the media

Mali-Bamako 2000: It was established that developing countries in general and those on the continent in particular need and are counting on ICT programmes and/or pilot projects that are practical and of great value, to enable our


- 223 -

and multilateral organizations all have a role in the evolution towards an Information Society.

populations to cope with their everyday tasks and problems.Our countries need regional, subregional and national ICT programmes and/or pilot projects in various sectors, such as education, health, connectivity, governance, hygiene, SMEs/SMIs, commerce, agriculture, environment, all of which should be implemented and completed within two to five years.

The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes identifying United Nations bodies to help with the implementation of these programmes and pilot projects in our five subregions.Regional and subregional entities may also be identified and included in the preparation, start up and implementation of such programmes and/or pilot projects.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes creating a digital solidarity fund, as suggested by President Abdoulaye Wade, to finance these programmes and/or pilot projects.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes that local and regional banks should be included in the mobilization of financing for national, regional and subregional ICT programmes and/or projects.Programmes and/or projects on infrastructure may be negotiated and developed at national, regional and subregional levels in order to minimize costs. The Bamako 2000 Bureau reaffirms that these ICT programmes and/or pilot projects should include all players, namely the public sector, the private sector and civil society.The mechanisms and criteria for selecting the proposals for the various ICT programmes and projects (national, subregional and regional) must be defined on a transparent and equitable basis.The fund access mechanisms for these initiatives must likewise be defined on a transparent, equitable and democratic basis.The digital solidarity fund must be managed by a committee the membership of which is composed as follows: 50% from developing countries and 50% from industrialized countries. Its secretariat shall be composed in the same way.The ICT programmes and/or pilot projects must have:• clear selection criteria• clear and realistic objectives• clearly defined periods for design, preparation, implementation and evaluation• clear and measurable indicators, in order to facilitate their subsequent evaluation and measure their real impact• clear assignment of responsibilities to the staff entrusted with their implementation.

The management committee of the digital solidarity fund must be accountable to the WSIS PrepCom secretariat.


- 224 -

Audits and other evaluations of the digital solidarity fund must be scheduled.

Mexico: Governments, the private sector, civil society, the media and multilateral organizations all have a role in the evolution towards an Information Society based on ICTs and traditional media.Switzerland: Replace paragraph 46 by:" In order to reach the above objectives and priorities, the measures outlined in the Action Plan need to be implemented at national, regional and international levels.• the application of the Action Plan must be the subject of a timetable, so that during the second phase of the WSIS it

will be possible to measure the progress which has been made.• The Action Plan needs to be implemented by all stakeholders: governments, international organizations, the private

sector and civil society. It is therefore essential that all stakeholders are involved in designing and implementing the Action Plan.

• Governments must invest adequate time, resources and commitment in building robust legal, policy and institutional frameworks, must develop appropriate tools and evaluate their own performance in engaging citizens in policy-making.

• In engaging in a multi-stakeholder dialogue, governments must ensure that: (1) Information (defined as a one-way relation and considered as a precondition) is complete, objective, reliable,

relevant, easy to find and to understand; (2) Consultation (defined as a two-way relation and recognised as central for policy making) has clear goals and

rules defining the limits of the exercise and government's obligation to account for its use of citizens' input; and (3) Participation (defined as partnerships with government) provides sufficient time and flexibility to allow for the

emergence of new ideas and proposals by citizens, as well as mechanisms for their integration into government policy-making processes.– The WSIS is invited to adopt guiding principles for engaging citizens in policy making. – All governments should establish a structured multi-stakeholder dialogue involving all relevant actors,

including the business community and civil society by 2005.– New and innovative forms of partnerships at all levels and between all stakeholders, such as Public Private

Partnerships (PPPs), will be a key ingredient in the successful implementation of the Action Plan. Each country should establish at least one successful PPP by 2005 as a showcase for future action.

The core of the implementation will be at national level. Thus, national e-strategies are the key towards reaching the goal of establishing a truly global information society.


- 225 -

The development of national strategies should be based on the exchange of international best practices, benchmarking and peer review.

Peer review is a powerful tool to create awareness of a country's actual performance towards achieving an Information Society for its citizens. It is the systematic examination and assessment of the performance of a State by other States with the ultimate goal of helping the reviewed state improve its policy-making, adopt good practices, and comply with established standards and principles. The examination relies heavily on mutual trust among the States involved in the review, as well as their shared confidence in the process. An individual country peer review of e-strategies could relate to economics, governance, education, innovation systems, enterprise, e-government and other policies and practices. The performance of a reviewed state can be assessed according to criteria such as policy recommendations, specific indicators and benchmarks, and legally binding principles. The review typically moves through the three procedural phases of preparation, consultation, and finally, assessment. Use could be made of the OECD experience in the review of many policy domains for its members. This expertise could be made available in helping design reviews for national e-strategies in cooperation with the countries concerned and with relevant international and regional bodies.• All countries should, with the involvement of all stakeholders, design national e-strategies by 2005. They should be

linked explicitly to national economic and development plans. – A peer review mechanism should be established by 2005.

El Salvador: Add [46A]: Every country should, through its government, put in place a suitable policy to ensure that its legal and educational framework will keep pace with technological and legal advances in the Information Society as they occur.

47. Governments in particular have a role in setting and implementing comprehensive, forward-looking and sustainable e-Strategies, adapted to the specific requirements of different communities and reflecting the stage of development and the structural characteristics of the national economy. This should

Canada:• "Governments becoming model users of new technologies and ICTs to improve the quality and delivery of

government services."Mexico: Governments in particular have a fundamental role in setting and implementing comprehensive, forward-looking and sustainable e-Strategies, adapted to the specific requirements of different communities and reflecting the stage of development and the structural characteristics of the national economy. This should include:• Financing programmes for the acquisition of books and other publications in libraries, and for the connection of end

users to the Internet, especially in developing countries, as a contribution to bridging the digital divide.• Establishing regulatory frameworks.


- 226 -

include:• Establishing regulatory

frameworks.

• Renewing models for public action and actively shaping the transformation towards an Information Society.• Preparing the future generation for the Information Society, and creating an environment of continuous learning.• Ensuring the full ownership by all stakeholders of the e-Strategies that are elaborated.

• Renewing models for public action and actively shaping the transformation towards an Information Society.

• Preparing the future generation for the Information Society, and creating an environment of continuous learning.

• Ensuring the full ownership by all stakeholders of the e-Strategies that are elaborated.

New Zealand: Both developing and donor countries may be reluctant to accord priority to establishing regulatory frameworks for e-strategies (article 47 of the action plan), in the face of more pressing regulatory requirementsTunisia: The reason national strategies to reduce the digital divide are important is that they are mainly directed to ensure the incorporation of the different countries in the information society within a specific time-frame. Therefore the following points should be taken into account:• Evaluation studies should be made to determine the exact levels of digital gaps and the progress made by various

countries in filling the various forms and manifestation of this gap. In view of the importance of this phase of action a global working group is proposed to formulate criteria for evaluation.

• The need to involve various stakeholders including network operators, service providers, manufacturers of communication and information equipment and systems, service providers, consultancy firms and specialists in the elaboration and implementation of national strategies.

• Adoption of national strategies to reduce the digital divide in three main directions:– development of infrastructure to handle information flow through the use of new communication services and

applications and their provision to users at an affordable cost;– development of the legal system to facilitate the adoption of globalization strategies, the progressive introduction

of free competition and the definition of the new roles of various stakeholders;– development of human resources to qualify them to meet the requirements of information society, upgrading

human resources and formulate criteria to measure effectiveness in various areas related to technological progress. This requires the elaboration of modern education and training programmes.

• Deployment of the necessary efforts to encourage the establishment of the largest possible number of specialized organizations to develop cooperative economy, explore new vocations and promote digital culture. For this purpose national mechanisms need to be established to enhance the usefulness and sustainability of these organizations.

Change "public action" to "public sector action".In the last line change "full ownership by all stakeholders of" to "effective participation of all stakeholders in".

48. Private sector involvement is crucial for a sound and

Canada:• The private sector remains responsible and accountable for "fair, open and transparent practices, the respect of the


- 227 -

sustainable development of infrastructures, content and application. • The private sector is not only a

market player but plays a role in a wider political and social context, i.e. helping countries to develop ICTs and overcome the digital divide.

• The private sector can be involved in practical partnerships for innovative applications, for instance, in e-Government initiatives.

goals of this Declaration and the promotion of a culture of peace."Mexico: Private sector involvement is crucial for a sound and sustainable development of infrastructures, content and application. • The private sector is not only a market player but plays a role in a wider political and social context, i.e.for example

in helping countries to develop ICTs and overcome the digital divide. • The private sector can be involved in practical partnerships for innovative applications, for instance, in

e-Government initiatives.

49. Civil society involvement is crucial for creating an equitable Information Society, based on sustainable economic and social development and gender justice:• Civil society involvement is

vital in the take-up and social acceptance of the Information Society.

• Civil society can help to strengthen the value aspect in the triangle of regulation, markets and values.

Canada: Civil society involvement is crucial for creating an equitable Information Society, based on sustainable economic and social development and gender justice equality:Mexico: Civil society involvement is crucial for creating an equitable Information Society, based on sustainable economic and social development and gender justice:[• Civil society involvement is vital in the take-up and social acceptance of the Information Society.]• Civil society can help to strengthen the value aspect in the triangle of regulation, markets and values.

50. Mass media – in their various forms – are recognized as essential requirement for freedom of expression and a guarantee of the plurality of information:• The media provide an

important means of fostering

Cuba: Add: "Through legislation and administrative measures, it must be limited undue concentration of private ownership and control of national and global media".Mexico: Mass media – in their various forms – are recognized as an essential requirement for freedom of expression and a guarantee of the plurality of information:• The media provide an important means of fosteringdisseminating public information, societal and fostering social

development and social cohesion.


- 228 -

public information, societal development and social cohesion.

51. Multilateral organizations have a key role in providing guidance, facilitating peer dialogue, exchange of experience and best practices, offering technical assistance in the design of e-Strategies and, in some cases, complementing the role of governments and other actors.

Mexico: Multilateral organizations have a key role in providing guidance, facilitating peer dialogue, exchange of experience and best practices, offering technical assistance in the design of e-Strategies and, in some cases, complementing the role of governments and other actors.Tunisia: Change "and best practices" to "and familiarization with best practices".

52. Performance monitoring: To be effective, beyond the identification of goals, the strategies should include timeframes, indicators and mechanisms for monitoring performance based not only on quantitative but also qualitative criteria. In the case of smaller countries, regional strategies can contribute to the emergence of larger markets, offering more attractive conditions for private sector investment as well as for a competitive environment. Furthermore ICTs could be of particular relevance in the development context, because they offer opportunities to Public Administrations, help attract private investments and allow for leapfrogging using new and

New Zealand: New Zealand similarly questions the need for performance monitoring in respect of e-strategies (Article 52 of the action plan). This would prove another administrative burden for developing countries. Mexico: Performance monitoring: To be effective, beyond the identification of goals, the strategies should include timeframes, indicators and mechanisms for monitoring performance based not only on quantitative but also qualitative criteria and on community connectivity indicators. In the case of smaller countries, regional strategies can contribute to the emergence of larger markets, offering more attractive conditions for private sector investment as well as for a competitive environment. Furthermore ICTs could be of particular relevance in the development context, because they offer opportunities to Public Administrations, help attract private investments and allow for leapfrogging using new and advanced technologies.


- 229 -

advanced technologies.

53. Specific initiatives: The development of a strategy entails understanding what to promote, where to promote it, and how to tailor and implement activities to achieve maximum impact. This should capitalize on existing national, regional and global efforts. Specific initiatives could include: • Promoting long-term

government spending on R&D and higher education, with the aim of mastering and adapting specific ICT solutions.

• Providing incentives and regulatory schemes that would enhance private sector capabilities in terms of human resource development, infrastructure and institution building.

• Providing tax incentives for start up ICT companies.

• Fostering the scale-up of locally successful ICT-related projects dealing with priority applications like health and education programmes.

Canada: • "Promoting long-term government spending on R&D and higher education, with the aim of mastering and adapting

specific ICT solutions and targeting the equal participation of women.…• Developing a baseline of computer security safeguards that all stakeholders must adopt in order to protect their

computer infrastructure."Ethiopia: Major programmes and projects include the following:• Government administrative and service delivery• Community access and service delivery• Sector programme development (ICTs in education, health, agriculture)• Private sector development• ICTs and knowledge economy development (ICTs physical infrastructure development, human resource

development, and content and use of appropriate technology)• Policy, regulatory and standards issues

• ICT human resources development• Capacity building in ICTs education and training infrastructure of the higher education system• Establishment of National ICTs excellence centre and network support technical system• Teaching ICTs to vocation stream educators• Launch distance-learning programme in ICTs• ICTs curriculum development for use at the middle and higher-level education and training.

Fiji: The Fiji Government calls for the re-direction of existing funds or formation of a Global Development Fund (GDF) to finance the expansion of successful ICT4D projects to regional and global scale. We believe it is the responsibility of individual Governments to fund national programmes (albeit with the assistance and loans of intergovernmental agencies), the GDF would be used only for projects that have reached maturity (economies of scale) in a national setting and could be replicated (via franchise models, mergers & acquisitions, or takeovers) on a regional or global scale.The priority deployment model of the GDF would be Multi-Sector Partnerships (MSP) and we would recommend agencies such as the Global Knowledge Partnership to administer the fund, who in turn would engage agencies such as


- 230 -

TakingITglobal to deploy youth-related projects.

• Focusing part of the R&D programmes on low purchasing power markets, including research on appropriate technologies and innovative marketing and distribution mechanisms, including the taking advantage of the diasporas.

• Creating a network of IT consultants.

• Developing a platform for showcasing applications.

Japan: Delete bullet: • "Providing tax incentives for start up ICT companies."Mali-Bamako 2000: It was established that developing countries in general and those on the continent in particular need and are counting on ICT programmes and/or pilot projects that are practical and of great value, to enable our populations to cope with their everyday tasks and problems.Our countries need regional, subregional and national ICT programmes and/or pilot projects in various sectors, such as education, health, connectivity, governance, hygiene, SMEs/SMIs, commerce, agriculture, environment, all of which should be implemented and completed within two to five years.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes identifying United Nations bodies to help with the implementation of these programmes and pilot projects in our five subregions.Regional and subregional entities may also be identified and included in the preparation, start up and implementation of such programmes and/or pilot projects.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes creating a digital solidarity fund, as suggested by President Abdoulaye Wade, to finance these programmes and/or pilot projects.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes that local and regional banks should be included in the mobilization of financing for national, regional and subregional ICT programmes and/or projects.Programmes and/or projects on infrastructure may be negotiated and developed at national, regional and subregional levels in order to minimize costs. The Bamako 2000 Bureau reaffirms that these ICT programmes and/or pilot projects should include all players, namely the public sector, the private sector and civil society.The mechanisms and criteria for selecting the proposals for the various ICT programmes and projects (national, subregional and regional) must be defined on a transparent and equitable basis.The fund access mechanisms for these initiatives must likewise be defined on a transparent, equitable and democratic basis.The digital solidarity fund must be managed by a committee the membership of which is composed as follows: 50% from developing countries and 50% from industrialized countries. Its secretariat shall be composed in the same way.The ICT programmes and/or pilot projects must have:• clear selection criteria• clear and realistic objectives


- 231 -

• clearly defined periods for design, preparation, implementation and evaluation• clear and measurable indicators, in order to facilitate their subsequent evaluation and measure their real impact

• clear assignment of responsibilities to the staff entrusted with their implementation.

The management committee of the digital solidarity fund must be accountable to the WSIS PrepCom secretariat.Audits and other evaluations of the digital solidarity fund must be scheduled.Mexico: Specific initiatives: The development of a strategy entails understanding what to promote, where to promote it, and how to tailor and implement activities to achieve maximum impact. This should capitalize on existing national, regional and global efforts. Specific initiatives could include: • Promoting long-term government spending on R&D and higher education, with the aim of mastering and adapting

specific ICT solutions.• Providing incentives and regulatory schemes that would enhance private sector capabilities in terms of human

resource development, infrastructure and institution building. • Providing tax incentives for start up ICT companies. • Fostering the scale-up of locally successful ICT-related projects dealing with priority applications like health and

education programmes.• Focusing part of the R&D programmes on low purchasing power markets, including research on appropriate

technologies and innovative marketing and distribution mechanisms, including the taking advantage of the diasporas.

• Creating a network of IT consultants.• Developing a platform for showcasing applications.New Zealand: does not support the use of prescriptive language in respect of the initiatives listed in article 53 of the action plan (promoting long-term government spending on R&D and higher education; providing tax incentives, creating a network of ICT consultants) for similar reasons. Such initiatives may be a low priority, or not appropriate for some developing countries including small Pacific island administrations.Tunisia: In first subparagraph change "government spending on" to "government investment in".• In second subparagraph change "providing incentives" to "formulation of incentive regimes".• In third subparagraph change "providing tax incentives" to "providing a regime of tax incentives".

D. International cooperation and financing

Mexico: International cooperation and financing


- 232 -

54. International cooperation. Close international cooperation among national authorities, stakeholders and international organizations in all aspects of the Information Society is more vital today than ever:• To this end, advantage shall be

taken of the opportunities offered by regional financial institutions and the UN Regional Commissions.

• Encouraging entrepreneurship is an important goal. For this, it is necessary to establish certain basic structures, e.g. conducive regulatory frameworks and access to market information for businesses.

• Encouraging cyber-volunteer programmes, notably in relation to NGOs, activities regarding basic ICT training to marginalized groups, or in relation to specific ICT applications.

• Fostering a cumulative knowledge process by systematic networking between grassroots initiatives, by creation of websites, by facilitating exchange of information and experience, and through dissemination of

Australia: To this end, advantage shall be taken of the opportunities offered by regional financial institutions and the UN Regional Commissions.To this end, international financial institutions and the UN Family shall work closely together to ensure maximization of synergies and the impact of resources, particularly between the UN initiative and the Development Gateway initiative; advantage shall also be taken of the opportunities offered by international and regional financial institutions and the UN Regional Commissions."Canada: "To this end, advantage shall should be taken of…"Japan: "Close international cooperation among national authorities, stakeholders and international organizations in all aspects of the Information Society is more vital today than ever. G overnment leaders of developing countries should raise the relative priority of ICT projects in requests for international cooperation and assistance on infrastructure development projects from developed countries and international financial organizations " Mexico: International cooperation: CloseEstablishing close international cooperation amongbetween national authorities, stakeholders and international organizations in all aspects ofrelated to the Information Society is more vital today than everof vital importance. To that end:• It is necessary to identify, as a priority, the cooperation arrangements offered by the international financial

institutions which afford the least developed countries an opportunity to create the infrastructure they need to be able to ensure their access to ICTs, since the Information Society requires effective incentives that provide countries with a basis of certainty for their integration.

• Resources should be granted to foster the creation and development of information-related small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

• To this end, advantage shall be taken of the opportunities offered by regional financial institutions and the UN Regional Commissions.

• Encouraging entrepreneurship is an important goal. For this, it is necessary to establish certain basic structures, e.g. conducive regulatory frameworks and access to market information for businesses.

• Encouraging cyber-volunteer programmes, notably in relation to NGOs, activities regarding basic ICT training to marginalized groups, or in relation to specific ICT applications.

• Fostering a cumulative knowledge process by systematic networking between grassroots initiatives, by creation of websites, by facilitating exchange of information and experience, and through dissemination of good practices.

Nepal: It is advised that subjects like FDI, market access for LDCs, debt relief, measures, which put considerable impact on the development of LDCs should be included with "concrete language" in the draft Action Plan.


- 233 -

good practices.

55. Financing: A commitment to financing the different initiatives proposed in this action plan is an essential element in its successful implementation. This will require innovative partnerships between the public and private sectors:• It is proposed to create a

digital solidarity fund. The international community is called upon to provide technical and financial cooperation at both the multilateral and bilateral levels, in particular with a view to giving the opportunity to less developed countries to create their ICT infrastructure.

• This could include a commitment by the private sector to provide ICT goods and services at preferential conditions for specific categories of users, notably not-for-profit organizations directly involved in poverty alleviation.

Australia: • "It is proposed to create a digital solidarity fund • This could include a commitment by the private sector to provide ICT goods and service at preferential conditions

for specific categories of users, notably not-for-profit organisations directly involved in poverty alleviation The private sector should be encouraged to provide ICT goods and services at preferential conditions for specific categories of users, notably not-for-profit organizations directly involved in poverty alleviation."

• The unsustainable debt burden should be reduced through such actions as debt relief, debt cancellation and other innovative mechanisms geared to addressing the debt problems of developing countries, in particular the poorest and the most heavily indebted ones.The unsustainable debt burden should be reduced through debt relief and debt cancellation."

Australia suggests deleting the rest of current text and inserting: "Debt relief must be focused on the poorest countries demonstrating a commitment to the policy reforms needed to reduce poverty. We support the World Bank/IMF enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative which involves participation by multilateral and bilateral creditors and ensures a comprehensive and coordinated approach to debt relief in heavily indebted poor countries."Canada:• It is proposed to create a digital solidarity fund. The international community is called upon to provide technical and

financial cooperation at both the multilateral and bilateral levels, in particular with a view to giving the opportunity to less developed countries to create their ICT infrastructure.

• The international community is called upon to respond appropriately through technical and financial cooperation at both the multilateral and bilateral levels to the relative priority given by least developed countries to the development of their ICT infrastructure.

…• The Monterrey Consensus adopted by the International Conference on Financing for Development recognized that

the resources necessary for development must be generated from both domestic and international sources. Developing countries are encouraged to create domestic conditions that are conducive both to generating domestic and attracting international resources and to using these resources effectively for development. For their part, developed countries are encouraged to both provide the additional resources they signalled at the Conference and work towards creating an international environment that is more conducive to development.

• Developed countries should make available the official

• Developed countries that have not already done should take make concrete efforts action to fulfill the target level of 0.7 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product as ODA.


- 234 -

development assistance (ODA) commitments that they announced at the International Conference on Financing for Development. All countries should comply with all aspects of the consensus reached at that conference.

• Developed countries that have not already done should take concrete action to fulfill the target level of 0.7 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product as ODA..

• The unsustainable debt burden should be reduced through such actions as debt relief, debt cancellation and other innovative mechanisms geared to addressing the debt problem of developing countries, in particular the poorest and the most heavily indebted ones.

• The Where unsustainable debt burden should be reduced through such actions as debt relief, debt cancellation and other innovative mechanisms geared to addressing the debt problem of developing countries, in particular the poorest and the most heavily indebted ones.

Japan: The meaning of "digital solidarity fund" should be clarified. It is more desirable to utilize existing funds rather than to establish new ones.The sentence starting with "Developed countries that have not already done…" should be modified in line with the paragraph 42 of the Monterey Consensus because the collaboration of both developing and developed countries is of great importance on achieving these goals. The sentence starting with "The unsustainable debt burden should be reduced…" should be modified in line with the paragraph 83 of WSSD Action Plan. Specifically, insert "and, as appropriate," after " debt relief"Mali: Add two indents:• Prepare strategies to promote investment for the development of ICTs in developing countries, particularly in rural

areas.• Establish in developing countries a mechanism to finance universal access (such as a universal access fund) in order

to narrow the digital divide, especially in rural areas.Mali-Bamako 2000: It was established that developing countries in general and those on the continent in particular need and are counting on ICT programmes and/or pilot projects that are practical and of great value, to enable our populations to cope with their everyday tasks and problems.Our countries need regional, subregional and national ICT programmes and/or pilot projects in various sectors, such as education, health, connectivity, governance, hygiene, SMEs/SMIs, commerce, agriculture, environment, all of which should be implemented and completed within two to five years.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes identifying United Nations bodies to help with the implementation of these programmes and pilot projects in our five subregions.Regional and subregional entities may also be identified and included in the preparation, start up and implementation of such programmes and/or pilot projects.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes creating a digital solidarity fund, as suggested by President Abdoulaye Wade, to finance theseprogrammes and/or pilot projects.The Bamako 2000 Bureau proposes that local and regional banks should be included in the mobilization of financing for national, regional and subregional ICT programmes and/or projects.Programmes and/or projects on infrastructure may be negotiated and developed at national, regional and subregional levels in order to minimize costs.


- 235 -

The Bamako 2000 Bureau reaffirms that these ICT programmes and/or pilot projects should include all players, namely the public sector, the private sector and civil society.The mechanisms and criteria for selecting the proposals for the various ICT programmes and projects (national, subregional and regional) must be defined on a transparent and equitable basis.The fund access mechanisms for these initiatives must likewise be defined on a transparent, equitable and democratic basis.The digital solidarity fund must be managed by a committee the membership of which is composed as follows: 50% from developing countries and 50% from industrialized countries. Its secretariat shall be composed in the same way.The ICT programmes and/or pilot projects must have:• clear selection criteria• clear and realistic objectives• clearly defined periods for design, preparation, implementation and evaluation• clear and measurable indicators, in order to facilitate their subsequent evaluation and measure their real impact• clear assignment of responsibilities to the staff entrusted with their implementation.

The management committee of the digital solidarity fund must be accountable to the WSIS PrepCom secretariat.Audits and other evaluations of the digital solidarity fund must be scheduled.

Mexico: Financing: A commitment to financing the different initiatives proposed in this action plan is an essential element in its successful implementation. This will require innovative partnerships between the public and private sectors:• It is proposed to create a digital solidarity fund. The international community is called upon to provide technical and

financial cooperation at both the multilateral and bilateral levels, in particular with a view to giving the opportunity to less developed countries to create their ICT infrastructure.

• This could include a commitment by the private sector to provide ICT goods and services at preferential conditions for specific categories of users, notably not-for-profit organizations directly involved in poverty alleviation.

• Developed countries should make available the official development assistance (ODA) commitments that they announced at the International Conference on Financing for Development. All countries should comply with all aspects of the consensus reached at that conference.

• Developed countries that have not already done should take concrete action to fulfill the target level of 0.7 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product as ODA.

• The unsustainable debt burden should be reduced through such actions as debt relief, debt cancellation and other


- 236 -

innovative mechanisms geared to addressing the debt problem of developing countries, in particular the poorest and the most heavily indebted ones.

Nepal: The countries represented at the Conference call upon those developed countries that have not already done so to take concrete actions to fulfill the target of 0.7% of their GDP as overall official development assistance for developing countries and the target of earmarking 0.15% to 0.20% of GDP as official development assistance for least developed countries as agreed.New Zealand does not support the creation of another new United Nations Trust Fund. New Zealand has not found such funds a cost-effective way of delivering development funding. They have proven expensive to run, and have been unable to generate additional financing. They are opaque in their governance (such as on decisions on what and where to fund) and slow in disbursing funds. Funding could be provided more effectively through other existing programmes and mechanisms.

Switzerland: Add: "Sustainable telecom public service and Universal Access finance mechanisms: • Governments should establish national funds to finance the roll-out of Universal Access, and to support it, when

necessary, by international financing funds. The funds should be part of national strategies to deploy Universal Access. The strategy should define the extent of a national Universal Access, and include licences for Universal Access obligation, taking particularly into account the integration of disadvantaged persons or communities.

• The deployment of Universal Access needs to be done in a transparent manner and in cooperation with private sector and civil society for the benefit of all stakeholders.

• The deployment of Universal Access is incumbent upon the private sector in possession of a licence for Universal Access obligation.

The funds should be guided by the following principles and rules:• Legal rules: establishing the legal and regulatory framework necessary to transparently set up and manage the fund

as well as the principle of awarding licences for Universal Access obligation.• The rules of competition: compliance with the rules of transparency, non discrimination and free competition in the

award of licences and the management of the fundTunisia: Financing• Financing must cover self-finance through support of private sector investment and involvement of elements of the

civil society, particularly non-governmental organizations, and the generation of foreign investments and allocation of loans to create small and medium-sized enterprises with government funds through initiatives sponsored by competent international organizations.

On the other hand, privatization policies that need to be adopted by a government should help finance programmes


- 237 -

for narrowing the digital divide, in view of their positive impact on comprehensive development.• In creating a new mechanism to finance digital development consideration should be given to the integration of

existing mechanisms and the allocation of funds for these mechanisms. In the meantime, bureaucracy should not be allowed to obstruct decision-making and efforts should be made to reduce operation costs by allowing the national civil society groupings to implement small projects in remote areas.In this context a special allocation may be made for digital development within the digital solidarity fund approved by the United Nations on 20 December 2002.

• Volunteers may be encouraged to help capacity building and opportunities may be pursued to finance model information applications to open up horizons for several countries.

55A Brazil: Add [55A] NEW AND ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF FUNDING AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS ARE NEEDED, IN ORDER TO SUPPORT NATIONAL ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, INCLUDING ICT INFRASTRUCTURE. FUNDING SHOULD ALSO BE BASED ON CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, NGOS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

55B Switzerland: Add new paragraph 55 A:"Mainstreaming ICTs into Strategies for Official Development Assistance:• ICTs should be fully mainstreamed into ODA strategies through more effective donor information-sharing and

coordination, and through analysis and sharing of best practices and lessons learned from experience with ICT-for-development programmes.

• There is a need for international cooperation, information-sharing, harmonization of strategies and sharing of best practices in fostering the growth of a global Information Society that includes and empowers the poor, in the period from the Geneva 2003 first phase of WSIS to the Tunis 2005 second phase.

• It will be essential to include the business community and civil society in all efforts to design and deliver ICT-for- development-programmes.

• The benchmark in ICT-for-development programmes, therefore, must continue to be progress on the MDGs, on the alleviation of poverty, and on the creation of vibrant markets and institutions in developing countries. Access to ICTs alone is a poor proxy for these more fundamental goals.

• A greater focus is needed on the contribution that ICTs can make to the MDGs, and on the impact of donor programmes rather than their inputs. Donors need to increase awareness of the potential of ICTs within their organizations and should foster both sectoral and cross-cutting approaches to integrating ICTs into development programmes. In all these efforts, the focus should be not on technology but on information, communication and


- 238 -

knowledge as tools of development and poverty reduction.• A matrix of bilateral and multilateral ICT-for-development strategies should be used as a point of departure for more

comprehensive efforts to share information about ICT initiatives, to measure more clearly the various inputs to the ICT-for-development effort, and to reduce overlap and unnecessary duplication of efforts.

56. Technology transfer: It is important to facilitate access, and to transfer knowledge and technology on concessional, preferential and favourable terms to developing countries, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, with the objective of enhancing the technological capacities and capabilities of developing countries, and improving their productivity and competitiveness in the world market.

Canada: "It is important to facilitate access, and to transfer knowledge and technology on concessional, preferential and favorable terms to developing countries, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, with the objective of …"Iran: "It is important to facilitate access, and to transfer knowledge and technology without any discrimination on concessional, preferential and favourable terms to developing countries, as mutually agreed taking into accountMexico: Technology transfer: It is important to facilitate access, and to and the transfer of knowledge and technology on concessional, preferential and favourable terms to developing countries, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, with the objective of enhancing the technological capacities and capabilities of developing countries, and improving their productivity and competitiveness in the world market.

E. Follow up

57. Indicators: A realistic international monitoring and benchmarking (both qualitative and quantitative) exercise, through comparable statistical indicators, should be developed to follow up the implementation of the action plan and to evaluate progress towards well identified goals, in particular progress toward the Information Society. Indicators and periodic reports may also provide a basis for

Australia: Australia believes that communities should decide their own indicators, which should be appropriate and locally relevant rather than a global set of generic indicators being imposed.Canada: To increase efforts to compile statistics on ICT use disaggregated by sex, develop gender-specific indicators on ICT use and needs, and identify measurable performance indicators to assess the impact of funded ICT projects on the lives of women and girls.Evaluation of the Information Society: To effectively plan and coordinate the development of the Information Society, indicators and measurements that evaluate and compare the progress of penetration of ICTs and their use by the population should be developed in cooperation with the scientific community.Japan: Taking into consideration the development of the infrastructure in developing countries, monitoring and benchmarking should be applied only to the benchmarks in 45 a), not to whole the action plan.


- 239 -

benchmarking, peer reviews and contribute to the dissemination of best practices.

El Salvador: Add [57A]: So that the actions proposed in this Action Plan are effective, every country should appoint an authority to be responsible for implementing and monitoring them, and for evaluating the results and proposing remedial action where necessary.Mexico: Indicators: A realistic international monitoring and benchmarking (both qualitative and quantitative) exercise, through comparable statistical indicators, shouldcould be developed to follow up the implementation of the action plan and to evaluate progress towards well identified goals, in particular progress toward the Information Society. Indicators and periodic reports may also provide a basis for benchmarking, peer reviews and contribute to the dissemination of best practices.To that end, consideration should be given to the incorporation of new community connectivity indicators which allow analysis of the development of communities in which community connectivity is introduced, thus enabling the real impact and effectiveness of public policies to be measured in each country, particularly in the developing and the least developed countries, for the purpose of evaluating progress towards the Information Society.New Zealand does not accept there is a need to impose a requirement for statistical indicators or periodic reporting at the national level. Such an exercise is likely to be expensive, burdensome for developing countries, and would be likely to duplicate indicators established in the context of the Millennium Declaration Goals.

57A Brazil: Add [57A] PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT IS CRITICAL. ADEQUATE PLANNING AT THE OUTSET FOR BENCHMARKING OF RESULTS WILL PROVIDE A BASIS FOR ALL SECTORS INVOLVED TO MONITOR PROGRESS AGAINST AGREED GOALS AND TO ADJUST THEIR ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE MET.

57B Brazil: Add [57B] APPROPRIATE INDICATORS AND BENCHMARKING SHOULD CLARIFY THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, AND KEEP IT UNDER REGULAR ASSESSMENT, WITH THE PURPOSE OF MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY MECHANISMS.

57C Brazil: Add [57C] NEW INDICATORS/METHODOLOGIES SHOULD BE STUDIED AND RESEARCHED WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING ASSESSMENT OF ITC IMPACT, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THEIR APPLICABILITY IN REGARDS TO THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL CONTEXTS.

57D Brazil: Add [57D] METHODS FOR QUANTIFYING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, THEREFORE, CANNOT NOT BE


- 240 -

BASED SOLELY ON ICT DENSITY, INFRASTRUCTURE OR CONSUMPTION, BUT MUST TRACK GLOBAL PROGRESS IN THE USE OF ICTS TO ACHIEVE THE UN MILLENNIUM DECLARATION'S SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

58. Reporting: International organizations and UN specialized agencies, particularly ITU, shall assess and report regularly on universal accessibility of ICTs and possible cases of discrimination. They shall also ensure non-discrimination for all members in their programmes, projects and contractual engagements, with the aim of creating equitable opportunities for the growth of ICT sectors of developing countries.

Canada: "International organizations and UN specialized agencies, particularly ITU, shall should assess and report regularly on universal accessibility of ICTs and possible cases of discrimination. They should shall also ensure non-discrimination based on sex, race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion, or disability for all members in their programmes, projects and contractual engagements, with the aim of creating equitable opportunities for the growth of ICT sectors of developing countries".Fiji: The Fiji Government believe that the WSIS should appoint Regional Commissioners responsible for ensuring countries show a marked ICT improvement by the 2005 Summit, and would further call for the appointment of a Pacific Commissioner separate from the usual bundling with Asia.Israel: Further discussion should take place on the engagement this would entail for governments. Particularly, we would appreciate receiving more details about the scope of the reporting involved, the nature of information that governments will be requested to prepare etc.Mexico: Reporting: International organizations and UN specialized agencies, particularly ITU, shall assess and report regularly on progress towards the Information Society. universal accessibility of ICTs and possible cases of discrimination. They shall also ensure non-discrimination for all members in their programmes, projects and contractual engagements, with the aim of creating opportunities for the growth of ICT sectors of developing countries.Tunisia: Change "reporting" to "outcome of evaluation" in order to highlight the function of evaluation in reports.

59. Support for implementation: Organizations of the UN family should support countries in the follow up on the agreements adopted in this declaration and action plan.

Canada: "Organizations of the UN family should support countries in the follow up on the agreements adopted goals established in this declaration and action plan."Mexico: Support for implementation: Organizations of the UN family should support countries in the follow up on the agreements adopted in this declaration and action plan.

Canada: [60] Research Programmes.To support and encourage research programmes to design, develop and adapt ICT infrastructure, tools and applications that are responsive to the needs of the poor, including women.


INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION · Web viewEnterprises, particularly SMEs, can use ICTs to...

Documents

Transcript of INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION · Web viewEnterprises, particularly SMEs, can use ICTs to...